*credit: www.soundmedicine.iu.edu

Pneumococcal disease can cause sickness and death and kills more people in the U.S. every year than any other vaccine-preventable disease. The elderly, the very young, and those with health problems (alcoholism, HIV, certain cancers, diabetes, heart and lung disease) are at increased risk.

What does it do?
Here are some relevant facts:

• Leads to serious lung infections such as pneumonia
• Leads to infections in the blood called bacteremia
• Leads to infections in the covering of the brain called meningitis
• 1 in 20 people die from pneumoccocal pneumonia
• 2 in 10 people die from bacteremia
• 3 in 10 people die from meningitis

Unfortunately, the disease has developed a resistance to drugs such as penicillin (which used to be able treat the diseases). Therefore, it is important to get vaccinated for prevention.

Pnemococcal Poloysaccharide Vaccine – PPV

• Protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria
• Most healthy adults will have protection to most or all of these types within 2-3 weeks of getting vaccinated
• Some very old adults or children under the age of 2 and and people with long-term illnesses may not respond well or at all.

Candidates for PPV

• Adults 65 or older
• 2 years of age or older with long-term health conditions such as:
  • heart disease
  • lung disease
  • sickle cell disease
  • diabetes
  • alcholism
  • cirrhosis
  • leaks of cerebrospinal fluid
• 2 years of age or older with diseases that lower the body’s resistance to infection:
  • Hodgkin’s Disease
  • lymphoma, leukemia
  • kidney failure
  • multiple myeloma
  • nephrotic syndrome
  • HIV or AIDS
  • damaged or no spleen
  • organ transplant

• 2 years or older who is taking any drug that lowers the body’s resistance to infection:
  • long-term steroids
  • certain cancer drugs
  • radiation therapy
  • People 65 or older who got their 1st dose under 65 or if 5 or more years have passed since the last dose.
  • people with damaged spleen or no spleen
  • sickle-cell disease
  • HIV or AIDS
  • Cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma
  • kidney failure
  • nephrotic syndrome
  • organ or bone marrow transplant
  • taking medication that lowers immunity
  • Children who are otherwise healthy and who get frequent ear infections, sinus infections or other respiratory diseases do not need PPV because of these conditions.
  • PPV may not be effective on some people who have a low resistance to infection. However, they still should get vaccinated because of the serious effects.
  • Pregnancy:there is no evidence that the vaccine is harmful and safety has not been studied. However, women should consult with their doctors regarding this.
  • redness or pain where the shot is given
  • Severe allergic reactions ,though rare
  • very small risk of death
  • disease causes more serious problems than the vaccine does

Also Alaskan Natives and certain Native Americans are susceptible to the disease.

Dosage Information
1 dose should be good enough. But sometimes a 2nd dose may be given. A 2nd dose should be given for:

Children 10 years old or younger can get this 2nd dose after 3 years of getting the first. Those older than 10 should get the 2nd dose after 5 years.

Other facts

Side Effects

When to Call the Doctor
If you get severe allergic reations (hives, difficulty breathing and shock)

You can find more information at the National Immunization Program website.

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