Dear Wise Senior: I recently turned 65 and would like to know if I should get the pneumonia vaccine? If so, what type of vaccine do I need? Is it covered by Medicare? — Relatively healthy
For those of you who are relatively healthy: Yes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the pneumococcal vaccine for people age 65 and older. It is also recommended for young people with long-term health problems or weakened immune systems, children under the age of 5, and smokers.
Pneumonia can occur at any time, not just during the cold season, and can be a serious, even life-threatening condition. Each year, pneumonia causes 1.5 million emergency department visits and approximately 50,000 deaths in the United States.
A recent study found that the use of pneumonia vaccines was associated with a 24 percent reduction in the risk of death, but vaccination rates are not as high.
Approximately 67 percent of adults aged 65 and older have been vaccinated against pneumonia, but only 24 percent of younger people at risk for pneumonia (ages 19 to 64) have been vaccinated. Many people wonder if they need a vaccine, and some don’t even know it exists.
Type of vaccine
There are three types of vaccines available, and some vaccines are suitable for certain people and others for others. They are pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine PPSV23 (Pneumovax23), pneumococcal conjugate vaccine PCV15 (Vaxneuvance) and PCV20 (Prevnar 20). The number indicates the number of pneumococcal strains or serotypes in the vaccine.
So, which vaccine should you get?
If you have never been vaccinated against pneumonia, the new PCV20, which covers the 20 most common serotypes, should be your first choice.
If the vaccine is not available in your area, you can get the PCV15 vaccine and 1 year later get the PPSV23 vaccine.
If you’ve had a previous PCV13 (but not PCV15), or a PPSV23 after age 65, you’re probably eligible to get a PCV20 for added protection.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the options that are most effective for you.
Side effects of these vaccines tend to be mild, but you may experience redness, swelling, and soreness at the injection site, as well as pain and fatigue.
Medicare Part B covers one-dose and two-dose pneumococcal shots, which only require one shot, unlike the annual influenza shot.
Most local pharmacies and community clinics offer pneumococcal vaccines, but we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
For more information, visit CDC.gov.
Other vaccines
To avoid pneumonia caused by viral infections, you should also consider getting a flu shot, RSV shot, and a COVID-19 booster shot in the fall.
Vaccines cannot prevent all pneumonia (or any other condition for which they are given), but when vaccinated, the infection is usually milder, lasts a shorter time, and has fewer serious complications. Masu.
The flu shot and coronavirus booster are covered by Medicare Part B, and the RSV vaccine (recommended every other year) is covered by Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. All three shots can be given at the same time.
Send senior questions to Savvy Senior, PO Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070 or visit SavvySenior.org.
