Pneumococcal disease (Pneumonia) is a serious disease that
causes sickness and death. Each year, Pneumococcal disease kills more people in the U.S.,
than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined.
The pneumococcal vaccine (PPV) protects against 23 types
of pneumococcal bacteria. Most healthy adults who get the vaccine develop protection
within 2-3 weeks of getting the shot. Very old individuals, children under age 2 and some
people with long-term illnesses may not respond as well to the vaccine.
Anyone can get pneumococcal disease; however, some people
are at greater risk. These people include those who are 65 years of age and older or
people with special health problems such as:
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Heart Disease
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Lung Disease
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Alcoholism
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Kidney disease
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Diabetes
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HIV infection
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Certain types of Cancer
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Hodgkin’s disease
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Kidney disease
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Damaged spleen
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Lymphoma, leukemia
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HIV infection or AIDS
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Organ transplant
anyone over 2 years of age whom is taking
any drug or treatment that lowers the body’s resistance to infection.
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Long-term steroids
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Radiation therapy
How Many Doses Of PPV Are Needed?
Usually one dose of PPV is all that is needed. However,
under some circumstances, a second dose may be needed. A single booster is given five
years after the first dose.
A second dose is recommended for:
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People age 65 and older, who were
vaccinated under the age of 65 years.
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Those people who have no spleen or a
damaged spleen.
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Anyone who has sickle cell disease.
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Anyone with HIV/AIDS
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Anyone with cancer, leukemia, lymphoma,
multiple myeloma.
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Anyone with kidney failure
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Anyone who has had an organ or bone marrow
transplant
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Anyone who is taking medications that lower
immunity such as chemotherapy or long-term steroids.
Children 10 years old and younger may get this second
vaccine 3 years after the first dose. Those older than 10 years should get the vaccine
five years after the first dose.
What Are The Risks of the PPV?
The PPV vaccine is very safe.
About half of the people vaccinated, have very mild side
effects, such as a tenderness or redness where the shot was given.
Less than 1%, develop a fever, muscle aches, or reaction
that is more serious.
Rarely, have allergic reactions been reported.
Getting the Pneumococcal disease is much more likely to
cause serious problems than taking the vaccination.
This information is obtained from the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information call 1-800-232-7468 or visit their
website at http://www.cdc.gov/nip.
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