The pneumonia vaccine is a type of vaccine that protects against various pneumococcal bacteria. The pneumonia vaccine can protect against serious health problems such as meningitis, a type of brain and spinal cord infection, especially pneumonia, caused by pneumococcal bacteria, and sepsis due to the body’s overreaction to infections. Although the pneumonia vaccine cannot completely prevent infection, it can significantly reduce the risk of contracting the infection or help the disease progress with milder symptoms if infected.
What is the Pneumonia Vaccine?
The pneumonia vaccine is a vaccine developed against a bacterium called Streptococcus pneumoniae . This vaccine, also known as pneumococcal vaccine , helps protect against a group of infectious diseases known as pneumococcal diseases, such as pneumonia, ear infection, sinusitis, meningitis.
When we look at the history of the pneumonia vaccine, the effect of scientific developments on human health is clearly seen. The first studies begin with efforts to develop immunity against infections caused by pneumococcal bacteria. Although vaccines initially produced with a completely killed form of bacteria were effective in preventing infections, the diversity of antigenic structures of different pneumococcal species necessitated the development of more targeted vaccines.
Today, there are vaccines available that can protect against 13 or 23 different pneumococcal bacteria. Although these vaccines are effective in preventing the vast majority of pneumococcal infections in both children and adults, vaccine development studies continue rapidly due to the risk of new serotypes emerging. Looking at the efforts to develop serotype-independent vaccines, it is expected that vaccines will provide more comprehensive protection in the future.
Why is the Pneumonia Vaccine Given?
The primary reason for getting the pneumonia vaccine is to prevent serious infectious diseases caused by pneumococcal bacteria. Pneumonia is a type of lung infection caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. The infection causes the air sacs in the lungs, called alveoli, to become inflamed and filled with fluid or pus. In this case, various symptoms may occur, such as cough, fever, chills and difficulty breathing. Pneumonia can also be caused by a viral infectious disease, such as the flu. Pneumonia due to viral infectious diseases often goes away on its own without the need for any treatment. On the other hand, pneumonia caused by bacteria can be life-threatening by causing serious complications such as shortness of breath, especially in infants, children, the elderly and people with weak immune systems for any reason. Most of the time, the disease may need to be treated with an appropriate antibiotic or even the patient’s treatment may need to be continued in a health institution. For this reason, experts may recommend that their patients, especially infants, children and the elderly, who are wondering “When is the pneumonia vaccine given?”, should be vaccinated against pneumonia at any time of visit to the doctor to protect against serious infection.
When the immune system encounters various microbes, it becomes defensive by producing antibodies, a type of protein, against it. The immune system’s response to a microorganism it encounters for the first time may be different from its defense response against a microorganism it has encountered before. When it encounters a microorganism that it has not known before, it takes time for the immune system to recognize and destroy it. During this time, the person may get sick. Vaccines are biological products developed to enable the immune system to recognize harmful microorganisms. Immunization, that is, strengthening a person’s immune system against a disease through vaccination, saves the lives of millions of people every year.
Today, both types of pneumonia vaccine, called conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (KPA13) and polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (PPA23), enable the immune system to produce protective antibodies against pneumococcal bacteria. In this way, when the body encounters the types of bacteria found in vaccines, the risk of developing serious complications can be prevented as it develops a faster response by recognizing it because it has encountered it before.
Who Gets the Pneumonia Vaccine?
The pneumonia vaccine can be given to infants, children, and people who may be severely affected by the infection if infected. Accordingly, people who are recommended to have pneumococcal vaccine are as follows:
People over the age of 65: As age progresses, the immune system may not be able to fight infectious diseases as easily as it used to. For this reason, experts recommend that all adults over the age of 65 get the pneumonia vaccine.
Those with a weakened immune system: Some health problems or various medications used in the treatment of health problems can cause a weakening of the immune system. For example, people with health problems such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, heart disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma, and diabetes have a higher risk of having severe pneumonia. For this reason, it is recommended that those with any chronic health problems consult their doctor and get a pneumonia vaccine.
Smokers: Long-term smoking can cause damage to the lungs over time and the inability to fight germs. Since this can increase the risk of developing pneumonia, smokers can also get the pneumonia vaccine.
Alcohol use: Long-term use of alcohol, which is one of the substances harmful to health such as cigarettes, may not be able to fulfill their duties as they should be, over time, white blood cells, that is, cells that play an important role in the immune system’s fight against infectious diseases. For this reason, experts may recommend that people who drink alcohol for a long time also get vaccinated.
Having recently had a serious health problem: The immune system may be weakened after serious injuries or trauma. For this reason, people who have recently suffered a serious injury or surgery can get a pneumonia vaccine.
In addition to those listed, experts recommend that all children under 5 years of age and children between 5 and 18 years of age with certain risks should receive the pneumococcal vaccine.
Where to Get the Pneumonia Vaccine?
Those who want to be protected from infections caused by pneumococcal bacteria may be confused about “Where to get the pneumonia vaccine?”. Pneumococcal vaccines are usually administered intramuscularly or, in some cases, subcutaneously. Experts decide on the appropriate injection site, taking into account the age and physiological characteristics of the person to be vaccinated. In infants and young children, large muscle tissue located in the front and side of the upper leg is generally preferred; In older children and adults, a suitable muscle located on the outside of the upper arm is preferred.
When is the pneumonia vaccine given in adults?
Vaccination against pneumonia in adults can be given at any time. Experts recommend that people who reach the age of 65 get vaccinated unless the person has any health problems that require early vaccination. At this point, for those who are wondering the answer to the question “How many years is the pneumonia vaccine given in adults?”, it is possible to say that this period may vary depending on the type of vaccine, and usually a single dose or two doses may be sufficient. If the vaccine developed against 13 serotypes of pneumococcal bacteria is administered in the first dose, the vaccine developed against 23 serotypes can be administered after 1 year if necessary.
When Are Babies Vaccinated Against Pneumonia?
In addition to pneumonia, pneumococcal bacteria are one of the main causes of meningitis, which can cause serious complications in infants. One of the questions asked to experts by parents who care about the health of their children more than anything else is “When is the pneumonia vaccine given to babies?” is the question. Infants and children can receive two different types of pneumonia vaccine: a conjugate pneumococcal vaccine developed against 13 serotypes of the bacterium, or a polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine developed against 23 types. The polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine is not considered effective in infants younger than 2 years of age. It is recommended that conjugate pneumococcal vaccine be administered to infants in a total of 3 doses, in the second, fourth and twelfth months.
How Many Years Is The Pneumonia Vaccine Given?
If necessary, the pneumonia vaccine may need to be repeated. The answer to the question “How many years is the pneumonia vaccine repeated?” differs according to the type of vaccine administered and the general health status of the person. For example, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (KPA13) is commonly known as a lifelong pneumonia vaccine and often requires a single dose. However, the polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (PPA23), which contains 23 species of the bacterium, usually provides 5 years of protection. After 5 years, the vaccine may need to be repeated.
Where to Get the Pneumonia Vaccine?
Although the side effects of the pneumonia vaccine are usually similar to the side effects of other vaccines, such as redness at the vaccination site, weakness, and mild fever, some people may be at risk of developing anaphylaxis, that is, a severe allergic reaction. For this reason, it is important that vaccination is done by a specialist physician in a health institution.
In Which Month Should the Pneumonia Vaccine Be Given?
The flu vaccine is usually recommended by the end of October. Unlike the flu vaccine, there is no clear answer to the question “In which month should the pneumonia vaccine be given?”. The pneumonia vaccine can be given in any month recommended by the doctor or desired by the person.
Pneumococcal bacteria can be life-threatening by causing serious complications, especially in infants, children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases. If you want to get information about the pneumonia vaccine, do not forget to make an appointment with a specialist physician.
