What To Eat, Drink, and Avoid When You Have the Stomach Flu
Are you having a hard time keeping things down with the stomach flu? Learn what our experts say about what to eat, drink, and avoid when your tummy is sick.
Who Needs a Pneumonia Vaccine and How Often?
Pneumonia is a serious condition, and some 41,000 people in the United States die from it every year. But progress has undoubtedly been made. In the last 20 years, pneumonia-related deaths have dropped by more than 52%.
One reason for this decrease is the increased availability of the pneumococcal vaccine. The expert providers at all locations of Internal Medicine of Greater New Haven recommend the pneumonia vaccine, in addition to the flu vaccine, for certain individuals.
Children and pneumonia
Being able to protect children from historically deadly diseases like polio, measles, and whooping cough is one of the greatest gifts of modern medicine. The pneumococcal vaccine is equally essential. Young children don’t have fully developed immune systems and are at a particularly high risk of developing severe pneumonia.
The PCV13 vaccine protects children between the ages of six weeks and two years from 13 different strains of pneumococcal bacteria. In addition to protecting the children who receive the vaccine, immunization also helps to prevent the spread of infection within the household.
Unvaccinated children face the risk of severe disease, long-term complications, and death. Immunization is vital in safeguarding their health.
Seniors and pneumonia
The risk of contracting pneumonia and experiencing complications rises significantly after you turn 65. You’re far more likely to be hospitalized if you have pneumonia as a senior. We recommend considering the PCV23 vaccine, which protects against 23 different strains of pneumococcal bacteria.
You may need two doses to be properly protected. However, when administered correctly, the vaccine is approximately 80% effective in healthy older adults. It’s a powerful tool to help you avoid illness.
Additionally, the proper dose provides long-term protection, so it’s not a vaccine you need to get every year.
Others with high risks
Children and seniors need the pneumonia vaccine, but other groups do, too. Certain health conditions can make you more likely to develop pneumonia and also more likely to experience complications. If you have any of these conditions, you should consider getting a pneumonia vaccine:
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Heart disease
- HIV/AIDS
- Autoimmune disorder
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
If you smoke, you should get vaccinated. Also, if you take a medication that suppresses your immune system, or if you’re undergoing treatments that weaken your immune system, such as chemotherapy, you should get vaccinated.
Protect your health
You’re busy and you have things to do. Protect your health by getting the recommended vaccinations, including those against pneumococcal bacteria. Schedule your appointment at the most convenient location of Internal Medicine of Greater New Haven today.
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