Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > Health > Should people get pneumonia vaccine to prevent secondary pneumonia due to Novel H1N1 Swine flu?

Should people get pneumonia vaccine to prevent secondary pneumonia due to Novel H1N1 Swine flu?

Answer:
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued guidelines for this situation and they do recommend this preventive measure in some demographic groups. It is often the secondary pneumonia that ultimately causes the most severe responses to this viral infection in certain segments of the population and can be the complication that proves fatal in some. The following guidelines were published by CDC on June 9, 2009:

There are two types of pneumonia vaccine recommended for use in two demographic groups: the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) and the a 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7). These guidelines apply to the use of the PPSV23 vaccine.

  1. It is recommended by the CDC that all adults aged 65 and older receive the PPSV23 Pneumonia vaccination.

  2. In the following age groups the CDC recommend the PPSV23 Pneumonia vaccination only if certain medical conditions exist--

Ages 2 through 64 only if one or more of these medical conditions exist:

  • Chronic cardiovascular disease (congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathies)
  • Chronic pulmonary disease including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Alcoholism
  • Chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis
  • Cerebrospinal fluid leaks
  • Functional or anatomic asplenia including sickle cell disease and splenectomy
  • Immunocompromising conditions including HIV infection, leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, generalized malignancy, chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome; those receiving immunosuppressive chemotherapy (including corticosteroids); and those who have received an organ or bone marrow transplant

3. Adults ages 19 through 64 who:

  • Smoke cigarettes
  • Have Asthma

CDC recommendations regarding use of PCV7 Pneumonia vaccine:

"PCV7 is recommended for all children aged less than 5 years; national coverage among 19-35 month olds with 3 or more PCV7 doses is currently > 90% (National Immunization Survey, July 2007-June 2008)."

"While maintaining this high coverage is important, expanding the use of PCV7 to people aged ≥ 5 years is not indicated because circulation of the 7 serotypes included in the vaccine has declined substantially and disease caused by these serotypes is now uncommon."
This answer is closed to changes. This is done in rare cases when questions are being vandalized or answers have become debates. E-mail reopen @ answers.com (no spaces) if you would like it to be reopened.
First answer by D4est. Last edit by D4est. Contributor trust: 1252 [recommend contributor recommended]. Question popularity: 4 [recommend question].
user-generated content

Related questions: [Edit]

Can you answer these Health questions?

Who is the owner of mercury drugs? Answer it!
Can sardines boost your energy? Answer it!
What do people say about drinking water? Answer it!
Do people in the US use to much water? Answer it!
How much water do people in MEDC's use each day? Answer it!

Relevant answers:

Home

Answer these

Is there a pattern behind the Golden Ratio?
In: Math and Arithmetic
Answer it!
What is advertising approach advertising?
In: Marketing Advertising and Sales
Answer it!
What is the branch code of Standard Bank of Town Centre Mitchell's Plain South Africa?
In: Banking
Answer it!
Where can you read Nancy Drew notebooks?
In: Nancy Drew
Answer it!
» more

Featured guides

» More