Can the pneumococcal vaccine be recommended for elders?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 75-year-old mother recently had a bad case of pneumonia, and her doctor mentioned that pneumococcal disease could be a concern. How can we tell if she is at risk for future infections, and should she get the pneumococcal vaccine to help prevent this? Are there other ways to protect her respiratory health as she gets older?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, which can spread easily and lead to serious illnesses like sinusitis, pneumonia, and meningitis. Symptoms vary by infection type: sinusitis may cause a runny nose and nasal congestion; pneumonia often presents with fever, cough, and shortness of breath; and meningitis can cause headache, fever, and seizures. For these symptoms, seeing a pulmonologist promptly is recommended to confirm the diagnosis.

People at higher risk include those with cochlear implants, diabetes, kidney disorders, or weakened immune systems, as well as elderly individuals, smokers, and heavy drinkers. The pneumococcal vaccine is advised for all children and adults over 65 to help prevent pneumonia, and it generally causes only mild side effects. There are two main vaccines, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13 or PCV20) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), with schedules based on age and health history.

I hope you got the answer.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Thank you.