Everyone plays a role in infection prevention—patients, families, and healthcare personnel—in and out of healthcare facilities. Show So do your part! Wherever you are, there is something you can do to stay safe from infections. Two things that you can do for yourself and your loved ones are to receive an influenza (flu) vaccine annually and a pneumonia immunization at the appropriate time according to your age and health history. By doing so, you not only protect yourself, but you protect others (e.g., cancer patients, people with suppressed immune systems) who are vulnerable to severe illness or even death if they get one of these viruses. Influenza immunization
 Access a printer-friendly copy of this alert Flu activity usually peaks in the U.S. in January or February. However, seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May. Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza virus. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. Even healthy people can get sick enough to miss work or school for a significant amount of time or even be hospitalized. Learn the flu basics.
Timing of vaccinationThe timing of flu cannot be predicated and can vary from season to season. In general, healthcare providers begin offering vaccination soon after vaccine becomes available, and if possible, by October.
Influenza vaccination for pregnant women
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Additional resources Pneumonia immunization
Access a printer-friendly copy of this alert Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria, sometimes referred to as pneumococcus. Pneumococcus can cause many types of illnesses, including pneumonia, blood infections, ear infections, and meningitis. There are vaccines to prevent pneumococcal disease in children and adults. The best way to prevent pneumococcal disease is by getting vaccinated. The pneumococcal vaccine is a shot that helps protect against some of the more than 90 types of pneumococcal bacteria. The vaccine for children, called pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), protects against the 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria that cause most of the severe illness in children. The vaccine can also help prevent some ear infections. PCV13 protects children by preparing their bodies to fight the bacteria. Almost all children (about 9 children out of 10) who get PCV13 will be protected from the 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria in the vaccine. PCV13 is also recommended to help prevent pneumococcal disease in adults with certain medical conditions. The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria. It is recommended for all adults 65 years and older and for anyone who is 2 years and older at high risk for disease, including those:
Revaccination with PPSV23
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Additional resources The pneumococcal vaccine protects against serious and potentially fatal pneumococcal infections. It's also known as the pneumonia vaccine. Pneumococcal infections are caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and can lead to pneumonia, blood poisoning (sepsis) and meningitis. At their worst, they can cause permanent brain damage, or even kill. Anyone can get a pneumococcal infection. But some people are at higher risk of serious illness, so it's recommended they're given the pneumococcal vaccination on the NHS. These include: Babies are offered 2 doses of pneumococcal vaccine, at 12 weeks and at 1 year of age. People aged 65 and over only need a single pneumococcal vaccination. This vaccine is not given annually like the flu jab. If you have a long-term health condition you may only need a single, one-off pneumococcal vaccination, or a vaccination every 5 years, depending on your underlying health problem. Find out who should have the pneumococcal vaccine The type of pneumococcal vaccine you're given depends on your age and health. There are 2 types. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is used to vaccinate children under 2 years old as part of the NHS vaccination schedule. It's known by the brand name Prevenar 13. Read the patient information leaflet for Prevenar 13 on the electronic medicines compendium website Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) is given to people aged 65 and over and people at high risk because they have long-term health conditions. Children at risk of pneumococcal infections can have the PPV vaccine from the age of 2 years onwards. The PPV vaccine is not very effective in children under the age of 2. Both types of pneumococcal vaccine encourage your body to produce antibodies against pneumococcal bacteria. Antibodies are proteins produced by the body to neutralise or destroy disease-carrying organisms and toxins. They protect you from becoming ill if you're infected with the bacteria. More than 90 different strains of the pneumococcal bacterium have been identified, although most of these strains do not cause serious infections. The childhood vaccine (PCV) protects against 13 strains of the pneumococcal bacterium, while the adult vaccine (PPV) protects against 23 strains. Children respond very well to the pneumococcal vaccine. The introduction of this vaccine into the NHS childhood vaccination schedule has resulted in a large reduction in pneumococcal disease. The pneumococcal vaccine given to older children and adults is thought to be around 50 to 70% effective at preventing pneumococcal disease. Both types of pneumococcal vaccine are inactivated or "killed" vaccines and do not contain any live organisms. They cannot cause the infections they protect against. Find out more about why vaccination is safe and important Occasionally, you or your child may need to delay having the pneumococcal vaccine or avoid it completely. Vaccine allergyTell your GP if you or your child has had a bad reaction to any vaccination in the past. If there's been a confirmed severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to the pneumococcal vaccine or any ingredient in the vaccine, it may not be possible for you to have it. But if it was only a mild reaction, such as a rash, it's generally safe to have the vaccine. Fever at the vaccination appointmentIf you or your child are mildly unwell at the time of the vaccination, it's safe to have the vaccine. But if you or your child are more seriously ill (for example, with a high temperature and feeling hot and shivery), it's best to delay the vaccination until after recovery. Pregnancy and breastfeedingHaving the pneumococcal vaccine is thought to be safe during pregnancy and while you're breastfeeding. But as a precaution, you may want to wait until you’ve had your baby if you're pregnant, unless the benefits of having the vaccine outweigh the risks to your child. Like most vaccines, the childhood and adult versions of the pneumococcal vaccine can sometimes cause mild side effects. These include:
There are no serious side effects listed for either the childhood or adult versions of the vaccine, apart from an extremely rare risk of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Find out more about the side effects of the pneumococcal vaccination Watch a YouTube video about the story of 11-year-old Sam, who had pneumococcal meningitis as a baby (before the childhood pneumococcal vaccine was introduced) and was left severely brain damaged.
Page last reviewed: 14 February 2019 |
How long to wait between flu shot and pneumonia shot
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