According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC), 1 out of 20 adults who get pneumonia die. And if you have diabetes, you are three times more likely to get pneumonia. (With diabetes, even a cold is more likely to become serious and land you in the hospital.)
One pneumonia shot can protect you for life if you are 65 or older. (Note: if you are under 65 and have a immune system problem or a chronic illness, some doctors recommend a booster in 5-10 years after the first shot).
Since the shot does not contain live bacteria, you cannot get pneumonia from it, so it is very safe. But as always, consult your doctor about your particular health situations, conditions and allergies to be sure you can take the shot safely.
The shot can protect you from all the infections caused by the same bacteria. In the lungs, the infection is pneumonia. If the bacterial infection is in the blood, it is called bacteremia and 2 out of 10 adults with bacteremia will die. In the brain, the infection is called meningitis. This is the most dangerous of the three and is fatal for 3 out of 10 adults who contract it.
About 10,000 people die each year from these bacterial infections. But getting a pneumonia shot can protect you, and is 60% effective in cases of the most serious versions of these infections.
When you are caring for someone, you are considered in a high risk group just like your patient. You have priority getting the pneumonia shot and the flu shot (when the supply is low as it was a few years ago). Getting these shots will protect you and decrease the chance that you could transfer something potentially dangerous to your loved one. This is especially important if your patient's condition doesn't allow them to have these preventative shots, because then you must do everything you can to protect them by staying healthy yourself.
I know the flu shots work because I had asthmatic bronchitis so bad 12 years ago that I spent 6 days in the hospital with oxygen. The next year, my doctor told me to have the flu shot so it wouldn't happen again. In 12 years of having the annual flu shot, I haven't gotten even the mildest cold. So when I learned about the benefits of the pneumonia shot, I asked for it as well.
You can get the shots at your doctor's office, pharmacy clinics, county health departments, and even senior organizations and even some grocery stores. It's definitely worth protection it offers.
Take Care,
Kathy
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