Pneumonia

Prevention

There are two vaccines that can prevent the development of pneumonias. A vaccine against some of the common types of Streptococcus pneumonia (pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, or PPV) is recommended for people older than 65 and for people at higher risk of developing serious pneumonia. This includes people with:

• Lung disease

• Heart disease

• Liver disease

• Kidney disease

• A damaged spleen or no spleen

• Certain types of cancer or people undergoing cancer treatment

• A weakened immune system

Another type of pneumonia vaccine (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, or PCV) is given to children younger than 2. Although it is used mostly to reduce the risk of meningitis and ear infections, it also lowers the risk of pneumonia.

The flu vaccine, which is given once a year, can prevent both flu and bacterial infections or pneumonia that can follow the flu. Anyone older than 6 months can have the vaccine. It is strongly recommended for people older than 65 and the following people who are at higher risk of developing serious influenza:

• Residents of nursing homes and other long-term health care facilities

• Anyone with chronic lung or heart-lung disease

• Anyone who has been hospitalized within the past year for chronic medical problems

• Anyone with a weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS, cancer or certain medications (such as prednisone or cancer chemotherapy)

• Women who will be past the third month of pregnancy during the influenza season (November through April)

• Children and adolescents on long-term aspirin therapy (because of the risk of Reye's syndrome)

The influenza vaccine also is recommended for adults between the ages of 50 and 65, children between the ages of 6 and 23 months, and people who are in close contact with someone at high risk, including parents, household and day-care contacts of young children, health care workers, and employees of long-term and assisted-living facilities.

An alternative to the flu shot is the nasal influenza vaccine called FluMist. It is a live, weakened form of the virus that doesn't require an injection, but is inhaled. It is approved for use in healthy people between the ages of 5 and 50.