Do I Need the Pneumonia Vaccine? The Scoop on Pneumovax by Dr. Sharon Orrange/Primary Care Physician: at DailyStrength Doctors and Advisors

Dr. Orrange received her BA in Biology at the University of California, San Diego, and a Masters Degree in Health Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. She received her MD from the USC Keck School of…

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LOCATION: Santa Monica, CA, USA

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Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Geriatric, Hospital and General Internal Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California

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Do I Need the Pneumonia Vaccine? The Scoop on Pneumovax

Posted in Pneumonia by Dr. Sharon Orrange on Oct 17, 2011

With flu shots on every corner patients often ask me if they also need the pneumonia vaccine, the Pneumovax. This is much different than the flu shot and here is the scoop.

For adults, the pneumococcal vaccine prevents pneumonia from the bacteria Strep. Pneumoniae (in kids it causes a very serious meningitis.) The pneumococcal vaccine is indicated for adults over the age of 65 and is a one-time vaccine in most cases. If you receive your pneumonia vaccine when you are 65 years or older, you do NOT need a booster and only receive that single vaccine.

People aged 19-64 with medical conditions such as asthma, chronic lung disease, diabetes, chronic heart disease, liver disease, alcoholism, and other conditions that make you immunocompromised (lymphoma, cancer, AIDS, multiple myeloma, etc.) should also receive the Pneumovax. Pneumovax is also recommended for folks aged 19-64 taking medications such as steroids, chemotherapy or radiation. In that case, if you received the Pneumovax before the age of 65, you should receive a booster of the vaccine at age 65 years or older.

- Dr O.

After seeing 3 doctors, no one could tell me exactly what I had. All anyone could tell me was that it was a "bug" after ruling out pneumonia and the flu. No one ran any additional tests since I didn't have insurance at the time. Now, here we are in April Posted on 04/11/11 09:13:03 pm

My doctor said that he had sent my blood work to many experts and they were all baffeled at how I have virtually zero levels of all Ig's and not mamange to be sick when I was younger. Anyone else with the same problem with all low classes of IG's?? Posted on 03/31/11 08:40:21 pm

On Wed. I received 2 shots and a breathing treatment, then got an antibiotic and cough syrup. I'm supposed to be resting/sleeping and can use the remote control ~~ thats it. Of course, I have to fix something to eat, etc. Posted on 03/06/11 06:10:42 pm

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Thanks for your complement !

By johnlasseter Mar 18, 2012

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