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Pneumonia Shots

Pneumonia Vaccine: Why immunize?

Pneumococcal disease is the cause of severe illness and even death; it kills more people in the United State each year than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined. Everyone is susceptible to pneumococcal disease; however, some people are at greater risk from this illness. The at-risk population includes: senior -
65 and older, the very young, as well as those with health issues including alcoholism, heart or lung disease, kidney failure, diabetes, HIV infections, and certain types of cancer.
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Pneumococcal disease can lead to serious infections of the lungs (pneumonia), the blood (bacteremia), and the covering of the brain (meningitis). Some statistics:

• One out of every twenty people die from pneumococcal pneumonia.

• Two out of every ten who get bacteremia.

• Three out of every ten who get meningitis.

People with health issues (as mentioned above) are at even greater risk to die from this disease. Drugs (e.g. penicillin) once so effective in treating these infections are now at a disadvantage as this illness becomes more drug resistant.  Immunization now plays a key role in prevention of this disease.

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV)

The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria.
Most healthy adults who receive immunization develop protection to most or all of these types within two to three weeks of receiving the shot. The at-risk population includes: the aged, children under 2 years of age,
and those with certain long-term illnesses may not respond as well, or at all.

Who should receive PPV immunization?

Adults - 65 years of age or older.

Anyone - over 2 years of age - who has a long-term health issue such as:

• Heart Disease

• Lung Disease

• Sickle Cell Disease

• Diabetes

• Alcoholism

• Cirrhosis

• Leaks of Cerebrospinal Fluid

Anyone - over 2 years of age - with a disease/condition that reduces the body’s resistance to infection, such as:

• Lymphoma, Leukemia

• Hodgkin’s Disease

• Kidney Failure

• Nephrotic Syndrome

• Damaged Spleen, or No Spleen

• Organ Transplant

• Multiple Myeloma

• HIV infection or AIDS

Anyone - over 2 years of age - who is taking any drug or treatment that reduces the body’s resistance to infection, such as:

• Long-Term Steroids

• Radiation Therapy

• Certain Cancer Drugs

Alaskan Natives and certain Native American populations.

How many doses of PPV are needed?

One dose of PPV is all that is usually required, however, under some circumstances a second dose may be given. For example:

• Aged 65 and older who received their first dose before 65 - if 5 or more years have passed since that initial dose

• Have a damaged spleen or no spleen

• Have sickle-cell disease

• Have HIV infection or AIDS

• Have cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma

• Have kidney failure

• Have nephrotic syndrome

• Have had an organ or bone marrow transplant

• Are taking medication that lowers immunity (such as chemotherapy or long-term steroids)

• Children 10 years old and younger may receive a second dose three years after the first dose

• Children over 10 years old should receive a second dose five years after the first dose 

Other facts about getting the vaccine

Otherwise healthy children, who often get ear infections, sinus infections, or other upper respiratory diseases, do not need to get PPV because of these conditions.

PPV may be less effective in some, especially those with lower resistance to infection, however, these people should still be immunized as they are more likely to suffer a serious illness from pneumococcal disease.

Pregnancy: The safety of PPV for pregnant women is yet to be studied; and while there is no evidence that the vaccine is harmful to either the mother or the fetus, pregnant women should consult with their doctor before being immunized. If possible, women at high risk of pneumococcal disease should be vaccinated before becoming pregnant.

What are the risks from PPV?

While PPV is a very safe vaccine, there are instances of:

• Approximately half of those who get the vaccine have very mild side effects such as redness or pain where the shot is given.

• Less than 1% develop a fever, muscle aches, or more severe local reactions.

• Severe allergic reactions (although they are are rarely reported).

As with any medicine, there is a tiny risk that serious problems, even death, may occur after getting a vaccine. However, contracting the disease is much more likely to cause severe health issues, complications, or death.  Essentially the disease presents more danger to health that the vaccine.

What if there is a serious reaction?

What should I look for?

• Severe allergic reaction (hives, difficulty breathing, shock)

What should I do?

• Call a doctor, or get to a doctor right away.

• Tell your doctor what happened, date and time it happened, and when the vaccine was given.

Vaccine Information Statement

Pneumonia Fact Sheet English (pdf)

Pneumonia Fact Sheet Spanish (pdf)