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The CDC Now Recommends Getting The Pneumonia Vaccine Starting At 50
In October, the CDC lowered the age recommendation for the vaccine against pneumonia. Before, it was 65 and older. The health agency now says you should get the shot at age 50.
KERA's Sam Baker spoke with Dr. David Winter, an internist with Baylor, Scott, and White-Dallas about the reasons for the change.
Winter: We're seeing a lot more of it (pneumonia) lately. That's the concern.
It used to be mainly in older folks, but we're now seeing it in middle-aged Americans. And so, because of the increase in the incidence, the CDC now recommends the vaccine, which works pretty well to minimize or sometimes even prevent pneumonia.
Baker: But what's causing the spread?
Winter: Most cases pop up randomly. It's unlikely or unusual for someone to say, I got it from so-and-so.
You can get it from a viral infection. Once the virus gets in your lungs, it increases secretions. You can get a secondary bacterial infection. So, that's one way.
But we're not sure why there's more pneumonia out there. Maybe more people are congregating together. Maybe the pneumonia bug itself is more virulent. We just don't know the actual reason.
Baker: The CDC says the vaccine battles pneumococcal bacteria. I know that involves pneumonia, but also more than that, correct?
Winter: The bacteria can cause other infections. Very rare cases of pneumococcal meningitis. It's thought the vaccine may also help to prevent that.
But the most common thing it does is to get in the lungs where it spreads. And that's what they recommend the vaccine for because that's the most common thing we're seeing.
The pneumonia vaccine works very well. It has very minimal side effects. You might get a sore arm for a day or two, sometimes an aching, but usually not severe side effects at all.
It works very effectively. People who get pneumonia after a vaccine do very well, or may not get it at all. They have very mild symptoms. So, the vaccine is worthwhile to consider.
Baker: Will it require a follow-up or booster later?
Winter: Yeah, there's a lot of different pneumonia vaccines out there.
The newer ones are called pneumococcal 20 or pneumococcal 21. And those are a lifetime vaccine. If you get those, that's all that you need.
The older ones don't tend to last as long. So, it's recommended that you go ahead and get these newer vaccines, the pneumococcal 20 or pneumococcal 21.
Baker: Is this only for people 50 and older, or younger people with certain risk conditions?
Winter: The previous recommendations were that if you were 65 or older, you could get a pneumococcal vaccine. Now they're saying if you're 50 or older, you should get one. But indeed, if you are younger than that and have some immune deficiency condition or have some chronic illness like chronic heart disease, lung disease, or kidney disease, you also should consider getting what at that age.
Baker: Is this something that needed to be done before now?
Winter: Well, typically in the past, we see mainly serious cases of pneumonia in the older folks. And if you were younger, you tolerated it pretty well and got over it pretty quickly.
However, there has been an increase in severe cases of pneumonia in younger folks. That's the reason for the new recommendation.
Baker: Just how dangerous is pneumonia?
Winter: A lot of folks have mild cases. We call that walking pneumonia. That's not a medical term. It means you walk in the doctor's office and we say you have pneumonia and here are your antibiotics. You can now go home.
But we're seeing more severe cases now, and that's a concern. Severe cases require hospitalization, and sometimes they end up in death. That's the reason we're targeting everyone age 50 and older.
Also, young children. If they're under age five, they need pneumonia vaccinations. They can also get a severe case of pneumococcal pneumonia.
RESOURCES:
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The CDC Now Recommends That People 50 And Older Get Vaccinated Against Pneumonia
This electron microscopic image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows two, round-shaped, Gram-positive, Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. AP/CDC hide caption
toggle caption AP/CDCFor the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lowered the recommended age for those who should get a pneumococcal vaccine — down to 50, from 65.
"Lowering the age for pneumococcal vaccination gives more adults the opportunity to protect themselves from pneumococcal disease at the age when risk of infection substantially increases," the CDC said in a statement.
Shots - Health News Flu Shot And Pneumonia Vaccine Might Reduce Alzheimer's Risk, Research Shows "Pneumococcal bacteria can also cause serious illnesses, including pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections, and older adults are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease."
Wednesday's recommendation comes as respiratory infections caused by the bacteria mycoplasma pneumoniae are rising across the U.S., especially in children, according to the CDC. That marks a change from previous years, when most cases involved older children and adolescents.
This year, the number of people who have been diagnosed with the pneumonia-causing bacteria or with bronchitis has increased over the past six months and peaked in August, the agency says.
Sponsor MessageMycoplasma pneumoniae causes respiratory infections such as pneumonia and can be spread in droplets through sneezing and coughing. Symptoms depend on the type of infection, but fatigue, fever and a cough are a few common symptoms, the CDC says. Diarrhea, runny nose and vomiting may be seen in children 5 years old or younger.
Public Health The flu shot is different this year, thanks to COVID Some people may have the infection but not have symptoms. Those who have pneumonia and don't need bed rest or treatment at the hospital may have a milder form of the infection known as "walking pneumonia." A person can also develop pneumonia more than once.
About 2 million infections caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae are diagnosed each year, although the actual number is likely higher.
Treatment for pneumonia can include antibiotics and some people recover without medicine, according to the CDC. There are currently two types of vaccines aimed at preventing pneumonia available in the United States. There are four vaccines in the U.S. That target 15 or more strains of pneumococcal bacteria. There is currently no vaccine available to prevent infections caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria, according to the CDC. Hand-washing and covering one's coughs and sneezes can help prevent its spread, the agency also says.
Goats and Soda Quiz: Can you pass our 9 question test on the latest theories of COVID-19 transmission The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices also voted on Wednesday in favor of recommending that those 65 years old and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised receive an additional updated COVID-19 booster six months after their first one.
"This vote allows people to make the best decisions possible to keep themselves and their loved ones safe from COVID-19," CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in a statement. "CDC will continue to educate the public on how and when to get their updated vaccinations so they can risk less severe illness and do more of what they love."
The number of COVID-19 cases is declining across the U.S., according to data from the CDC.
There's A Major New Vaccination Recommendation For People 50 And Older
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made a major change on age recommendations for a common vaccine.
For the first time, the CDC said adults as young as 50 should get vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia, a significant reduction from the previous recommendation that people get the shot at age 65.
The pneumococcal vaccine helps protect against serious illnesses like pneumonia and meningitis, as well as other illnesses such as sinusitis and ear infections. It's recommended for children younger than 5, older people and people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from pneumococcal infections.
The vaccine change is an effort to reduce the number of people who become ill – some who have to be hospitalized – due to pneumonia.
"Lowering the age for pneumococcal vaccination gives more adults the opportunity to protect themselves from pneumococcal disease at the age when risk of infection substantially increases. Pneumococcal bacteria can cause serious illnesses, including pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections, and older adults are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease," the CDC said in a statement.
People spread pneumococcal bacteria to others through direct contact with respiratory secretions, like saliva or mucus. Symptoms typically appear up to three days after the bacteria enters the body with patients reporting chest pain, cough, fever and chills and rapid or difficulty breathing. Older adults may also experience confusion or low alertness.
Serious infections can result in sepsis, long-term breathing problems or even death.
Vaccination is considered the best way to prevent the infection, the CDC said.
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