|
You are here: Home
> Health Care Tips
Health Care Tips
Protect Yourself Against Pneumonia
Pneumonia, an infection or inflammation of the lungs, is a serious illness that kills thousands of older people in the United States each year. Individuals can help to protect themselves from this illness by receiving a pneumonia vaccination.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends the pneumonia vaccine for people:
- age 65 and older
- ages 2 to 64 when they are at increased risk due to a chronic illness, especially heart or lung disease or diabetes
- ages 2 to 64 who have weakened immune systems, which can be caused by certain kidney diseases and cancers, organ transplant medicines and other diseases
The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that the pneumonia vaccine be given to children under the age of 2.
The pneumonia vaccine is safe and one shot generally lasts most people up to 10 years. However, some healthcare professionals recommend that people over the age of 65 have the vaccine every five years. Individuals with one or more chronic medical problems should also have the vaccine every five to six years.
Pneumonia is a common complication of influenza, so it’s important for individuals who are at risk of developing pneumonia to have a flu shot every fall.
|
