The Importance of Receiving a Flu and Pneumonia Vaccine

According to the CDC, influenza (“flu”) can be spread through coughing, sneezing, or nasal secretions. While anyone can get the flu, rates of infection are higher among young children, people 65 and older, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions (such as heart, lung, or kidney disease, or a weakened immune system). These populations also tend to become much sicker from the influenza virus.

The flu can cause fever/chills, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, a runny or stuffy nose, and fatigue. These symptoms can often be mistaken for other illnesses and not identified as the flu. The flu is very serious and thousands of people die each year from it and even more are hospitalized.

A “high dose” inactivated flu vaccine is available for people 65 years of age and older. The inactivated vaccine is a killed form of the virus that is administered by an injection with a needle. Since the influenza viruses are always changing, it is important to get a flu shot every year. Influenza can occur at any time, but most flu infections occur between October through May.

The flu can also cause pneumonia. Pneumonia can be caused from the flu or occur on its own. It is transmitted through respiratory droplets. Some typical symptoms of pneumonia are fever, shaking chills, cough, shortness of breath and chest pain. Approximately 175,000 Americans are hospitalized with pneumonia annually.  According to the CDC, the pneumonia vaccine (PPSV23) protects against 60-70 percent of strains that are most likely to produce an adult infection and is recommended for adults 65 years of age and older, cigarette smokers, residents of long term care facilities (like Abigail House), and those who have chronic medical conditions (lung, heart, liver, kidney or sickle cell disease, diabetes, or asthma). This vaccine can be given at any time of the year and can be administered at the same time as the flu vaccine. A one-time revaccination is recommended if your first dose was administered more than 5 years ago and you are age 65 or older.

You can obtain more information about these vaccines from your doctor or on the CDC website: www.cdc.gov .