Do I Need A Pneumococcal Vaccine?

Pneumonia is a disease that can be fatal for those who are affected by it. As of 2019, it remains the principal cause of death among Malaysian women, and the second leading cause of death amongst Malaysian men¹.

Pneumococcal pneumonia, the most common type of bacterial pneumonia², is an infectious and potentially serious bacterial lung disease³. Unlike common colds that are caused by viruses, pneumococcal pneumonia is caused by bacteria and can cause severe symptoms³.

However, there are vaccines that protect against the disease, known as pneumococcal vaccines⁴.

Like all other vaccines, pneumococcal vaccines encourage your body to produce antibodies – which are proteins produced by the body to neutralise or destroy disease-carrying organisms or toxins – that fight against pneumococcal bacteria⁵. 

Why should I get the vaccine?

Pneumococcal vaccines help to prevent its recipient from contracting the pneumococcal disease, which is any type of illness caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria⁴. 

Since its introduction, the pneumococcal vaccine has reduced the rate of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria in otherwise healthy adults⁶.

Bacterial pneumonia in itself is not contagious – however, the infection that causes it can be. It can spread to others through coughs, sneezes, and contact with contaminated objects⁷.

Severe cases of pneumonia can bring about fatal complications such as organ damage, sepsis and septic shock, meningitis, and lung abscesses. If left untreated, severe pneumonia can also have long-lasting effects on your lungs, and potentially increase your susceptibility to future infections⁸.

Sometimes, pneumonia can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms are variable and can be similar to symptoms of a cold or influenza⁹. As such, pneumococcal vaccines can help prevent pneumococcal disease⁴.

If you have further doubts, you can reach out and speak to a healthcare provider about whether it’s the right immunisation option for you.

Photo credit: Matthew Bennett @ Unsplash

Who Should Get The Vaccine?

Generally, it is advised that children, the elderly, and those with health conditions who are more likely to be infected with pneumonia to get vaccinated^4,10.

Who are more likely to be infected by pneumococcal disease? You might belong in the high-risk category if:

• You are above 65 years old¹⁰.
•  You are a smoker¹⁰.
• You suffer from heart disease¹⁰.
• You suffer from diabetes^10.
•   You have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or a condition that weakens your immune system. This includes those who have received chemotherapy, had an organ transplant, or have HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)¹⁰.
• You drink alcohol heavily¹⁰.
• You’ve recently had surgery or recovered from a severe illness¹⁰.

To find out how to prevent this, reach out to a healthcare provider about your immunisation options.

When To Get The Vaccine?

There are two vaccines for pneumonia that protect against the infection and collectively protect from more than 30 types of pneumonia bacteria¹⁰.

Should your doctor advise you to get a pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine, you can get it done at any time of the year¹⁰.

Photo credit: Frank Meriño @ Pexels

Don’t Wait To Get Immunized

Pneumonia can be deadly even if you get good medical care so you are still encouraged to get vaccinated to prevent pneumococcal infection¹¹.

To prevent lengthy pneumonia recovery times or potentially fatal pneumonia infections^12,13, immunization remains an essential component to protect yourself and those around you¹⁴.

Your wellbeing should always be your foremost priority, so don’t put off getting vaccinated against this disease. Don’t wait until it’s too late, speak to a doctor today.

Disclaimer:

The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.

For Pfizer terms of use click here: Terms of Use | Pfizer – Breakthroughs That Change Patients’ Lives

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