Ear, Nose & Throat ENT Disorders Pneumonia Do You Need the Pneumonia Vaccine? Two FDA-Approved Vaccines for Children and Adults By James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD Dennis Sifris, MD, is an HIV specialist and Medical Director of LifeSense Disease Management. James Myhre is an American journalist and HIV educator. Learn about our editorial process James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MD on July 08, 2020 facebook linkedin Benjamin F. Asher, MD, FACS, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. For 30 years, he has worked at Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound and the Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic. Learn about our Medical Review Board Benjamin F. Asher, MD Updated on July 15, 2020 Print sladic / Getty Images Pneumonia causes over 50,000 deaths in the U.S. every year and accounts for over 400,000 emergency room visits, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In recent years, the increased use of pneumonia vaccines, particularly among the elderly, has led to an 8 percent reduction in the numbers of deaths since 1999. With that being said, only around 65 percent of those at high risk has been properly vaccinated. In many cases, people are unsure whether they need the vaccine or which type of pneumonia it is meant to prevent. Others are not even aware a vaccine exists. 2:29 How Pneumonia Occurs Type of Pneumonia Pneumonia is defined as the inflammation of the air sacs of the lungs which can fill with fluid and lead to breathing difficulty, fever, chills, and coughing with pus or phlegm. Pneumonia is most commonly caused by germs but can also develop if you inhale food or liquid into the lungs (aspiration pneumonia) or pick up a drug-resistant bacteria while in the hospital (hospital-acquired pneumonia). The most common type is known as community-acquired pneumonia in which a contagion such as a bacteria, virus, or fungi is spread outside of a healthcare setting. Of these, bacteria is by far the most common cause. Bacterial pneumonia is typically spread by respiratory droplets that are aerosolized once a person coughs or sneezes. The majority are caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium with more than 90 different serotypes. Of these, 10 types are responsible for the majority of pneumonia-related complications. While bacterial pneumonia primarily affects the respiratory tract, it can cause serious illness if it spreads into the bloodstream. If this happens, it can infect the blood (pneumococcal bacteremia/sepsis) and cause inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (pneumococcal meningitis). The risk of death in people with invasive pneumonia is between five and seven percent and can even be higher in the elderly. Types of Pneumonia Vaccine There are two vaccines which can provide protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae. They cannot prevent other types of bacterial pneumonia (such as those caused by Chlamydophila pneumoniae or Mycoplasma pneumoniae) or any associated with a fungus or virus. The two FDA-approved vaccines immunize a person against the specific serotypes that are most likely to cause illness and invasive disease. They are: PCV13, marketed under the name Prevnar 13, which prevents 13 of the most severe types of S. pneumoniaePPSV23, marketed under the name Pneumovax 23, which protects against an additional 23 S. pneumoniae serotypes Neither vaccine is made from a live or whole bacteria but rather parts of the bacterial shell. While these components cannot cause disease, the immune system recognizes them as threats and triggers a defensive response in the same way it would to a real bacteria. The PVC13 vaccine is delivered intramuscularly either into the deltoid muscle of the upper arm or the vastus lateralis muscle of the external thigh. The PPSV23 shot can either be given intramuscularly or subcutaneously (into the skin). Who Needs Vaccination? Pneumonia vaccination is not recommended for everyone. The vaccines are primarily used in persons who are at increased risk of serious illness. These include: Infants and children as part of their routine vaccination schedulePersons over the age of 65Persons with compromised or weakened immune systems, including those with chronic illness such as HIV, heart disease, liver disease, kidney failure, and diabetesOrgan transplant recipients and person undergoing chemotherapy, both of whom have weakened immune systems and exposure to immune suppressive drugsPersons with chronic respiratory illnesses such as asthma, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)Persons who smoke (who have an underlying risk of lung infection) or are heavy drinkers (who are more likely to have a suppressed immune system)Persons recovering from surgery or a serious illness Vaccination is currently not recommended for persons between 18 and 64 who are healthy. The same applies to anyone who has had a prior allergic reaction to the vaccine or has a known allergy to any of the components of the vaccine. Vaccination Recommendations Pneumonia vaccination is a routine part of a child's immunization schedule. Here are recommendations for which vaccines should be given to which populations, according to the CDC: PCV13 All children younger than two years oldPeople two years old or older with certain medical conditions Adults 65 years or older also can discuss with their clinician whether to get PCV13. PPSV23 All adults 65 years or olderPeople two through 64 years old with certain medical conditionsAdults 19 through 64 years old who smoke cigarettes If used as recommended, the vaccines should afford you lifetime protection. In those who have not completed the course, a booster shot may be recommended. Some doctors will also routinely offer their patients a booster shot five to 10 years after the initial series. Side Effects Side effects of both vaccines tend to be mild and resolve on their own within one or several days. Most are related to injection site discomfort or manifest with mild, flu-like symptoms. Among the most common symptoms: FatigueHeadachesLow-grade feverMuscle pain (myalgia)Joint pain (arthralgia)Injection site pain, redness, swelling, or tendernessChillsDrowsiness Less commonly, diarrhea, vomiting, or a skin rash can occur. In the event of a more severe reaction—including hives, blisters, breathing restriction, facial swelling, tongue swelling, confusion, or seizure—call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately. While rare, an all-body allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can occur which, if left untreated, can lead to shock, coma, and even death. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. De alba I, Amin A. Pneumonia readmissions: risk factors and implications. Ochsner J. 2014;14(4):649-54. Loughran AJ, Orihuela CJ, Tuomanen EI. Streptococcus pneumoniae: Invasion and Inflammation. Microbiol Spectr. 2019;7(2). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.GPP3-0004-2018 Mclaughlin JM, Jiang Q, Isturiz RE, et al. Effectiveness of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Against Hospitalization for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Older US Adults: A Test-Negative Design. Clin Infect Dis. 2018;67(10):1498-1506. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy312 Green C, Moore CA, Mahajan A, Bajaj K. A Simple Approach to Pneumococcal Vaccination in Adults. J Glob Infect Dis. 2018;10(3):159-162. doi:10.4103/jgid.jgid_88_17 Torres A, Blasi F, Dartois N, Akova M. Which individuals are at increased risk of pneumococcal disease and why? Impact of COPD, asthma, smoking, diabetes, and/or chronic heart disease on community-acquired pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal disease. Thorax. 2015;70(10):984-9. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2015-206780 Von elten KA, Duran LL, Banks TA, Banks TA, Collins LC, Collins LC. Systemic inflammatory reaction after pneumococcal vaccine: a case series. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2014;10(6):1767-70. doi:10.4161/hv.28559 Additional Reading American Lung Association. "Trends in Pneumonia and Influenza: Morbidity and Mortality." Washington, D.C.; issued November 2015. Daniels, C.; Rodgers, P.; and Shelton, C. "A Review of Pneumococcal Vaccines: Current Polysaccharide Vaccine Recommendations and Future Protein Antigens." J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2016; 21(1):27-35. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-21.1.27 Tagaro, A.; Bote, E.; Sanchez, A. et al. "Complications of Pneumococcal Bacteremia After Thirteen-valent Conjugate Vaccine Withdrawal." Ped Infect Dis J. 2016: 35(12):1281-7. doi:10.1097/INF.0000000000001302 CDC. "FastStats: Pneumonia." Updated January 20, 2017. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations." Atlanta, Georgia; updated December 6, 2017.