Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness in people of all ages. Vaccines can prevent some types of pneumonia. You can also help prevent pneumonia and other respiratory infections by following good hygiene practices.
Lower Your Risk of Pneumonia
You are more likely to get pneumonia if you smoke or have underlying medical conditions, like diabetes or heart disease. However, you can lower your chances by taking good care of your medical problems, and quitting smoking.
Causes of Pneumonia – CDC
Viruses, bacteria, and fungi can all cause pneumonia. In the United States, common causes of viral pneumonia are
- Influenza viruses
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19)
Common causes of bacterial pneumonia are Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and, especially in kids, Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
The bacteria and viruses that most commonly cause pneumonia in the community are different from those in healthcare settings. However, clinicians are not always able to find out which germ caused someone to get sick with pneumonia.
Risk Factors for Pneumonia – CDC
Certain people are more likely to get pneumonia:
- Adults 65 years or older
- Children younger than 5 years old
- People who have ongoing medical conditions
- People who smoke cigarettes
Prevention – CDC
Lower your risk by getting vaccinated
Vaccine – Pneumococcal
Oneida County Health Department offers pneumococcal vaccines. Call 715-369-6111 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Protect your health with these healthy living practices
Avoid people who are sick. If you are sick, stay away from others as much as possible to keep from getting them sick.
You can also help prevent respiratory infections by:
- Washing your hands regularly
- Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that are touched a lot
- Coughing or sneezing into a tissue or into your elbow or sleeve
- Limiting contact with cigarette smoke or quitting smoking
- Taking good care of medical conditions (like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease)
Pneumococcal Vaccination – CDC
Vaccines help prevent pneumococcal disease, which is any type of illness caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. There are two kinds of pneumococcal vaccines available in the United States:
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV13, PCV15, and PCV20)
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)
Childhood recommendations
CDC recommends PCV13 or PCV15 for all children younger than 5 years old and children 5 through 18 years old with certain medical conditions that increase their risk of pneumococcal disease.
CDC also recommends PPSV23 for children 2 through 18 years old with certain medical conditions that increase their risk of pneumococcal disease.
Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about pneumococcal vaccines.
Adult recommendations
For those who have never received any pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, CDC recommends PCV15 or PCV20 for adults 65 years or older and adults 19 through 64 years old with certain medical conditions or risk factors. If PCV15 is used, this should be followed by a dose of PPSV23.
Adults who received an earlier pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13 or PCV7) should talk with a vaccine provider to learn about available options to complete their pneumococcal vaccine series.
Adults 65 years or older have the option to get PCV20 if they have already received
- PCV13 (but not PCV15 or PCV20) at any age
and
- PPSV23 at or after the age of 65 years old
These adults can talk with their doctor and decide, together, whether to get PCV20.
