Should You Get the Pneumonia Vaccine?

Editor's Note: This article was written by Kerri MacKay and originally appeared on our partner site, Asthma.net.

I get an annual flu shot, but while I’ve pondered the pneumonia (pneumococcal) vaccine before, it’s never something I have personally made a move on. Should I?

Who is most at risk?

Adults and children with asthma are at increased risk of complications from pneumonia, as are those with other forms of lung disease like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), those with heart disease, and those with diabetes.^1,2

Lung disease may make pneumonia symptoms more severe, heart disease may inhibit the body’s ability to fight off pneumonia without putting added strain on an already damaged heart, and both lung disease and diabetes can result in a degree of immunocompromise that makes people more susceptible to acquiring viruses like pneumonia (or the flu), and the complications from these viruses more severe.^1,2

Pneumococcal disease vaccines

The pneumococcal vaccine comes in 2 forms, and I’ll be honest: Differentiating the 2 is making my head spin! In addition to preventing infection by a number of strains of bacteria causing pneumonia, both vaccines help protect against bacterial meningitis. They are: ^2-4

• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15, PCV20, PCV21) – Recommended for children younger than 5 years of age, it is also for children ages 5 through 18 who are at high risk of pneumococcal disease.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) – Recommended for children and adults for protection against pneumococcal germs, it is also suggested for all adults over the age of 65.

The CDC recommends that all adults over the age of 50 receive the pneumococcal vaccine.^1,4

Some people will need to receive a booster or second dose of certain vaccines, or multiple vaccines at separate times. Your doctor will recommend the correct vaccines and schedule them for you, taking into account whether or not you need multiple doses.²

While vaccines cannot prevent every case, they are proven to work well.⁴

Should people with chronic illness get the pneumococcal vaccine?

Historically, the recommendations have been mixed as to whether or not asthmatics need to receive the pneumonia vaccine. The CDC notes that children under the age of 5 and adults over the age of 50 are “at increased risk for disease for pneumococcal disease.” Those with chronic lung disease are also at increased risk. Most insurance providers will cover the cost of the pneumonia vaccine, both in general and for high-risk individuals like those with asthma, heart and kidney problems, and COPD.^1,2,4

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) website Vaccines.gov has more information about recommended vaccines, including pneumococcal disease vaccines.

The final answer, from my perspective, would appear to be yes – even if your doctor, your pharmacy, and ads on your Facebook feed haven't waged a full-fledged mass media awareness campaign on you to receive the pneumococcal vaccine, it appears to be recommended for people with asthma. I’ve added it to my list of topics to discuss with my doctor.

Different sources I have read seem to recommend multiple forms of the vaccine equally for people with chronic health conditions like asthma. Ask your doctor which vaccine is the better choice for you.

Have you received the pneumonia vaccine in addition to an annual flu shot? Are you considering asking your doctor about the pneumococcal vaccine? Share in the comments below.