Prevention

• Vaccines are available that prevent certain types of pneumonia. Yet there are so many bacteria that cause pneumonia, you are not guaranteed to avoid it even with an immunization.

• Pneumovax and Pnu-Immune are vaccines to prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people in the following groups should ask their doctor about receiving the pneumococcus immunization:
  
  
  • people age 65 and older,
    
    
  • people with serious long-term health problems such as heart failure, liver failure (cirrhosis of the liver), diabetes, or lung disease (other than asthma),
    
    
  • people with lowered immunity due to cancer, chemotherapy, diseases or removal of the spleen, chronic kidney problems, or have had an organ or bone marrow transplant, or
    
    
  • people who are Alaskan Native Americas or certain other Native American populations.
    
    
  • In 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed a new vaccine, Prevnar, for the prevention of pneumococcal disease in children.
    
    
  • This vaccine is recommended for healthy infants under the age of 2 and for children between the ages of 2 and 5 who have not previously been vaccinated and who are at highest risk for developing pneumococcal disease, such as those with HIV/AIDS, have certain chronic diseases, and have decreased immune function.

Viewer Comments & Reviews

Pneumonia - Describe Your Experience

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

Please describe your experience with pneumonia.

Anonymously share your comment to help others.
See 12 Viewer Comments & Reviews

Submit Your Review