Have you had a pneumonia vaccine?

[ebethc]

I'm concerned about complications from the covid virus and asked my doc for a pneumonia vaccine, but she said no. I'm middle aged, non-smoker, no asthma... so I guess that she thinks I'm not high risk... however, I'm concerned that CFS / low functioning immunity is a risk for covid turning into something worse... Am I missing something? has anyone discussed a pneumonia vaxx w their doc? (not necessarily related to covid)

thx

 

[Rebeccare]

I think that the pneumonia vaccine only prevents against a certain type of pneumonia called pneumococcal pneumonia. This type of pneumonia is caused by a specific type of bacteria, which is why the vaccine works against it. However, there are many different types of pneumonia. The type of pneumonia that covid19 patients are experiencing has a different cause--it is not the result of this particular bacteria. So I don't think that the vaccine would help in this case.

 

[ryan31337]

I've had pneumococcal vaccine, it was a requirement before starting on biologic drugs (immunosuppressants).

Can't speak authoritatively but as I understand it the vaccine covers for 20 or so strains of bacteria that can cause pneumonia. There are many more strains but presumably these are the most severe. I think in the case of covid the pneumonia is viral in origin, so any bacterial pneumonia you might acquire just comes as secondary infection, which means the vaccine isn't as useful as you might hope.

 

[ebethc]

so any bacterial pneumonia you might acquire just comes as secondary infection

yes, exactly... I'm trying to avoid secondary infections! for me personally, the actual covid doesn't seem to be unmanageable.... I'm worried about secondary infections that complicate things, and re-infections (assuming this goes in waves over the next 12-18 mos)