Routine Care & Wellness

Pneumococcal

Symptoms

Symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia include high fever, cough with chest pain and mucus, shaking chills, breathlessness, and chest pain that increases with breathing. Changes in level of consciousness or the presence of confusion are symptoms commonly found in older adults. However, these symptoms are not always evident.

The symptoms of pneumococcal meningitis include stiff neck, fever, mental confusion and disorientation, and photophobia (avoidance of looking at light due to pain).

The symptoms of pneumococcal bacteremia may include a combination of pneumonia, meningitis, arthritis, and fever.

Vaccine Safety

The vaccine is safe and effective in preventing illness and death due to pneumococcal disease. Some people have experienced mild side effects, but these are usually minor and last only a short time. When side effects do occur, the most common include swelling and soreness at the injection site. A few people experience fever and muscle pain. As with any medicine, there are very small risks those serious problems, even death, could occur after getting a vaccine. However, the risks from the disease far outweigh the risks from the vaccine. You cannot get pneumococcal disease from the vaccine.

Prevention

There is a vaccine to protect against pneumococcal disease. The vaccine is safe and effective. A single dose of the vaccine protects against 23 different types of bacteria that are responsible for causing over 90% of all pneumococcal disease cases.

Who should get pneumococcal vaccine?

• People who are age 65 or older.
• People who have a chronic illness such as cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, sickle cell disease, diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, chronic liver diseases, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks.
• People with a weak immune system due to illnesses such as HIV infection, AIDS, chronic renal failure, organ transplantation, Hodgkin's disease, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and those who have had their spleen removed.
• Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
• Alaskan Natives and certain American Indian populations.

• Pneumococcal disease can be prevented with a safe, effective vaccine.
• Pneumococcal vaccine can be given any time during the year.
• You cannot get pneumococcal disease from the vaccine.
• Together, pneumonia and influenza are the fifth leading cause of death for older adults in the United States.
• Pneumococcal vaccine can be given at the same time as influenza vaccine.
• Pneumococcal vaccine is covered by Medicare Part B.
• Estimates are that only 38% of adults 65 years or older, and 8% to 10% of high-risk groups who need the pneumococcal vaccine, have received it.
• Pneumococcal pneumonia accounts for 25% to 35% of all adult pneumonias leading to hospitalization, and is the most common type of bacterial pneumonia in persons 65 years and older.
• Each year in the United States, pneumococcal disease accounts for an estimated 500,000 cases of pneumonia, 50,000 cases of bacteremia, and 3,000 cases of meningitis.
• A single dose is recommended for those aged 65 years and older. Some people may need to be re-vaccinated after 5 years.
• Pneumococcal disease is to blame for up to 40,000 deaths each year in the United States. Approximately 50% of these deaths can be prevented through the use of the vaccine.

These facts about pneumococcal disease and prevention are courtesy of the
National Coalition of Adult Immunization

to reach their organization, please click here for more information.