Pneumonia Vaccines

Pneumonia vaccine helps to prevent lung infection pneumonia. It prevents pneumococcus bacteria. There are more than 80 pneumococcal bacteria. But the vaccine can prevent only 23 of them. It works by increasing the immunity in the person’s body. It will not give protection from pneumonia caused by microbes. Persons who are more than 65 years should take this vaccine. Children above 2 years who are suffering from lung or heart dis orders are advised to use this vaccine. The persons infected with HIV or any sickle cell diseases must get this vaccine. But this vaccine is not recommended in the regular vaccination schedule.

Pneumococcal vaccine is not recommended for people who had any previous adverse effects to this vaccine. Pregnant woman or woman who plans to get pregnancy should not use this vaccine. The World Health Organization recommends the use of pneumonia vaccines in the developing countries. It is not like flu vaccine. So you need not get the vaccine every year. Normally one dose is enough. In some cases the doctor may advice to use the second dose. If your health condition is sound, but the surroundings have the possibility of spreading pneumonia, you can use the vaccine after consulting your doctor.

Most of the people vaccinated with this vaccine had shown great immunity against the disease. The vaccine causes some normal side effects like rash, redness in the injection spot and fever. These effects will not last long. You can also get flu or any inactivated vaccines before or after getting pneumonia vaccines.

Pneumonia vaccine is given as a shot of 0.5 ml. One dose is enough for most people. But for people suffering from sickle cell disease, chronic disorders, HIV infected people should get the second dose after 5 years from the first dose. This vaccine is given as a intra muscular shot. The injection site must be sterilized with alcohol before using this.

A latest research shows that children vaccinated with pneumonia vaccine have lesser chance to get the disease. Pneumonia affects lung and other respiratory organ. Treatment to this involves number of days in hospitalization. Sometimes it may cause severe health problems and death. But it is a vaccine preventable disease. So it is recommended by health experts especially it should be used by high risk groups.

Recommended Reading

1. Hib Vaccines - HIB vaccine is a conjugate vaccine normally given as a shot in the arm. As the disease is not found...
2. Pneumococcal Vaccines - Pneumococcal diseases are becoming common nowadays. Pneumococcal diseases include HIV, chronic organ failure and sickle cell anemia. Lot of children...
3. Mumps Vaccines - Mumps vaccines are made from weakened live vaccines and they are generally used as combination vaccine with Measles and rubella....
4. Polio Vaccines - Polio is a disease that can cause permanent disability among children. Thanks to vaccine the disease is now almost reduced...
5. Hiv Vaccines - Nearly 40 million people are affected with HIV all over the world. There is no specific treatment to control the...