Pneumonia Vaccine Update
With all of the buzz about the influenza vaccines this year, it’s a good time to review a few of the new indications for the Pneumovax vaccine. Since many of the flu-related deaths are actually related to a secondary pneumonia, all smokers and all people with asthma or other pulmonary diseases or a compromised immune system should be sure to get the Pneumovax vaccine. If you fit these categories, even if you are not 65, get your vaccine now. We have Pneumovax and all other currently available adult vaccines at our office at 650-988-7550.
After all, “Vaccines are among the most effective public health and medical strategies for protecting and preserving health,” wrote Gregory A. Poland, MD, MACP, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, and William Schaffner, MD. Like any medical intervention, vaccines only work if people take them, and the United States has consistently failed to achieve immunization goals. On average, almost 50,000 adults die in the United States each year of vaccine-preventable diseases. In addition to the human toll, the total economic burden associated with annual influenza was estimated to be over $87 billion in 2003.
For more complete information on vaccines, go to
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/