Pneumonia vaccination

Hi there, is it recommended for someone with asthma to vaccinate against pneumonia? is there any link between the 2 diseases?

thanks.

[Hidden]

pneoumonia jab

Hi,it is advisable to have the Pneoumonia jab if you ve not recently had it.Because PNEOUMONIA CAN KILL.You have the injection every ten years.My GP nurse gave me the Flu jab in one arm, and the Pneoumonia jab in the other arm at the same time.It made me very ill.When i saw my GP,he told me that i should have been given in jections on different days not at same time, This i believe for me, would not have affected me so much if had been given the way GP said.I would advise any one to have the jab,but not at same time as other injections.Ive now since had to have another Pneoumonia jab on its own and i have been absoloutly fine.I hope that this has been of use to you, Kind Regards Tinytanner

[yaf_user681_33231]

As an influenza infection can be very serious for those with respiratory disease, it is advisable to have the 'flu jab' and also the Pneumonia vaccine, which should last for 7 years.

All those considered by the GP Practice to be in the 'at risk' category should have received notification of the 'flu jab'

[Hidden]

Yes! The pneumo jab is something I would definitely recommend! The previous posters are right I think. Oh and dont forget to have the (dreaded -grr) flu jab this year!

[Hidden]

yes, you should have both flu and pneumococcal vaccines - the pneumococcal protects against some forms of pneumonia, but not all - but the common ones, so worth having. Pneumonia and flu can both be serious in asthmatics so definately worth having

(says she who didn't get round to having a flu jag last year - oops) - oh and has anyone had this year's yet - last I heard they weren't in yet.

[Hidden]

Hi,

The BNF suggests:

'Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for individuals at increased risk of pneumococcal infection as follows:

- age over 65 years;

- asplenia or splenic dysfunction (including homozygous sickle cell disease and coeliac disease which could lead to splenic dysfunction);

- CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASE (INCLUDES ASTHMA TREATED WITH CONTINUOUS OR FREQUENT USE OF A SYSTEMIC CORTICOSTEROID);

- chronic heart disease;

- chronic renal disease;

- chronic liver disease;

- diabetes mellitus requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs;

- immune deficiency because of disease (e.g. HIV infection) or treatment (INCLUDING PROLONGED SYSTEMIC CORTICOSTEROID TREATMENT);

- presence of cochlear implant

- conditions where leakage of cerebrospinal fluid may occur;

- child under 5 years with a history of invasive pneumococcal disease.'

So the suggestion is that anyone who has asthma that is severe enough to require long term prednisolone or frequent short courses of pred should have the jab.

In terms of when it should be repeated, the BNF and the drug company documentation suggest that it should not need repeating at all unless you have a condition that would predispose to your antibody levels falling - certain spleen problems, for example. However, I know that a lot of respiratory physicians do recommend that their patients have it every ten years.

It should be noted that the Pneumovax only protects against one of the common bugs that causes pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumoniae. There are at least a hundred other bacteria, viruses and fungi that can cause pneumonia, and at least half a dozen of those are seen reasonably commonly. The Pneumovax will not protect against any of these, so it is still possible to get pneumonia if you have had the jab. However, it is worth having, as Strep. pneumoniae tends to cause one of the nastier types of pneumonia.

As for the flu jab, anyone who has asthma or another chronic illness should ask about it. I didn't have it last year, and got Influenza A, which worsened my asthma to the point where I had to spend seven weeks in Intensive Care, suffered a host of complications, and was lucky to come through it alive. So please, everyone, learn from my experiences and get your flu jab. It may, in some people, make you feel a little unwell for a day or two, but that is far better than the potential complications of 'flu.

Take care all

Em H

[Hidden]

will be good and get it this year, Em, after what happened to you last year I'm going to be sensible for once in my life (oh my goodness, did I really say that?)

[Hidden]

The flu jabs are due to arrive at our surgery mid-october time - but suppliers have warned us that this is approximate only.

[Hidden]

My daughter got her flu jab last week and they were running clinics this week. I am booked in for mine in 2 weeks time.

Bex

[Hidden]

I've been 'invited' to my GP surgery for my 'flu jab next Saturday. I was wondering though, is it still okay to have it now that I'm taking methotrexate? Or maybe that makes it even more important that I have the jab?

[Hidden]

Well after reading about people already having flu jab I just rang surgery to book apts. I have been told they starting in my surgery early November !! Same old story every year, some get it early in Sept and others have to take gamble and wait till Nov. I read yesterday you can pay a tenner and haVE it in supermarket pharmacy. I may keep that option in mind as I am worried about Sean getting flu virus this year as he so immune suppressed with pred,kenalog and aziathropine.

[Hidden]

It's November in the surgery by my house too - but I don't know about here at the uni medical centre though.

I should probably ask.

[Hidden]

Thanks for your replies. Following your advice I will go for the vaccination then!

take care.

[Hidden]

hehe the medical centre doesn't know when they're getting the flu vacs in....

that's organisation!

[Hidden]

To be fair, it's not the medical centre's organisational skills that are at fault, probably - it's more likely to be supply issues at the drug companies who make the vaccine.

The exact strain of 'flu that is prevalent each year varies, which means that in order to make sure supplies are adequate, public health doctors have to play some guessing games in about May to try to predict which strain will be the main problem this winter. If they don't get it quite right, sometimes it can take a few more weeks to ensure that supplies of the right vaccine are sufficient.

Last year there were particular problems, with very short supplies and practices running out of vaccine, in some cases. Hopefully this year will be better.

Em

[Hidden]

Yes, Em - there are no reported supply problems this year - in our area, at any rate.

[Hidden]

well got my appt for flu jab at local clinic for next mon pm which as only working reduced hrs still should be able to make for 1st time since last year said wud have it in wrk then as was off sick missed all appts.

[Hidden]

Reminds me of when I worked in Spar, when it came to Easter time - every year no matter how many easter eggs we brought in...we ALWAYS ran out!

So we had to call the area manager to fetch more from sumwhere for the people who are still buying eggs on Easter day itself!

The receptionist said she would be sending leaflets out to all students when the jabs come in - so that's handy to know.

[Hidden]

Hi all,

I happened to be in OPA today and asked my consultant about the pneumonia jab issue - it's been about ten years, I think, since I had mine and I wanted to know what his feelings were on repeating it.

Although the manufacturer and the BNF say that in most people (unless you are lacking a spleen, etc) the vaccine should last for ever, he and most respiratory consultants do recommend that it is repeated every ten years in most people, as the antibody levels do tend to gradually drift down.

This has to be weighed against the theorectical slight increase in the risk of anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions if you vaccinate someone who has already been vaccinated.

Anyway, the upshot of my conversation with him is that I'm having blood taken to test my functional antibody levels, and if they are low, they will revaccinate me. They'll also check the Haemophilus influenzae B (HiB) levels, because I am of the generation that didn't get the HiB vaccine as a child, as they do now, and HiB can also cause pneumonia. Apparently, though, most adults have natural immunity to HiB through previous exposure, so my antibody levels should be good - if not, they will vaccinate against this as well.

I'm not sure what the particular evidence base is for this approach - I suspect like many things in difficult asthma, there isn't a lot of evidence one way or another - but I just thought it might be interesting/useful to others to see how one (experienced in difficult asthma) consultant does it!

Take care all

Em

[yaf_user681_33231]

I know the guideline is 7 to 10 years for the Pneumococcal vaccination but, after 4 years, my antibodies were so low, my Consultant at the RBH recommended having it done again. if a serious risk patient, it is worth requesting an antibody check if it is a while since the Pneumococcal vaccination.

[yaf_user681_33231]

I know the guideline is 7 to 10 years for the Pneumococcal vaccination but, after 4 years, my antibodies were so low, my Consultant at the RBH recommended having it done again. If a serious risk patient, it is worth requesting an antibody check if it is a while since the Pneumococcal vaccination.

[Hidden]

Hello have been in Costa so missed the start of this thread but am just a tad worried about GornFishings post that says if you are at risk you will be contacted by your GP surgery. This indeed did use to be the case but sadly due to financial constraits letters are no longer sent out by the Practices within the health centre where i work. Even the over 65's are no longer sent a letter, all that happens is we put up notices in da surgery but if you don't happen to come in you won't know that as an asthmatic you are entitiled to a free flu jab.

Also due to the fact that more money is generated from giving flu jabs to the elderly when we do ring to invite people in (when the fridge is heaving - like now under the weight of the flu jabs) it tends to be the diabetics and over 60's, sadly COPD and asthma pts are the last port of call - in our aea anyway. BUT although i don't like flu injs i will be having one and URGE all fellow asthmatics to seriously consider having one. Sorry for ramble, Lois

[Hidden]

Looking at it on a purely target-based basis (?! - it's Friday evening, bear with me), GPs have target to vaccinate all the at risk groups - the over-65s, people with heart disease, people with asthma, COPD, diabetes...and I'm sure there are more groups, but the targets definitely include asthmatics.

[Hidden]

cathbear does that info mean I should ask my GP about vac. Yuck got to go for flu jab on Mon 1st time ever as missed it both at GP's and work last year being off sick. Tell all mums with asthmatic kids to get it done but nhave to say not really looking forward to it less so if at some point have to have pneumonia 1 as well.

[Hidden]

Yes, I would definitely still ask about it. It's unlikely, as Lois says, that in the early phase of the programme GPs will have the resources to contact every person in the ""At-Risk"" groups to ask them to come it - as described, it's a pretty huge bunch of patients!

[Hidden]

Hello, the targets do include 'asthma' patients but because the payment received for over 60's is greater guess who we have to target first. Before the contract changed we targeted the whole of the at risk group but now unfortunately the main push is telephone calls only no letters and to the over 64's first then diabetics then when we still have 300 left in the fridge the asthmatics and COPD's. It used to be all the at risk group got letters but now its just phone calls and asthmatics are the very last port of call. Which obviously i disagree with but as my boss keeps reminding me - its a business now and to our Drs nearing retirement its about generating money. Hey ho. So just in case you live in area served by GPs like mine - DONT wait for the letter, leaflet or call. You are entitled to a free flu inj - go and get it and protect yourselves, as asthmatics we are vunerable. Take good care, love a much less wheezy Lois x