Pneumonia with pleurisy

[Dazzledog]

I'm 63 and spent 4 weeks in hospital with community pneumonia in left lung complicated with very painful pleurisy (helped by morphine). Should I know be eligible for pneumonia vaccine? How long after pneumonia should I get vaccine?

[freefaller]

Ask your Doc about this. There is probably a set time limit to wait but only your Doc or probably your pharmacist will know. My consultant has said that anyone with a lung condition should get the oneumonia jab every 10 years - healthy people just once in a lifetime is fine,..

[scorpiolass in reply to freefaller]

Hi Freefaller; I had mine done about 2004 & the Respiratory Nurse told me it would need doing every 10 years. However, we haved moved to another part of the country & the Practice Nurse who does the Spirometry checks says no, you only need it once. Maybe I should ask the Consultant when I eventually see him. X

[freefaller in reply to scorpiolass]

Yes, I would my GP said first every ten years so I had one in 1995 and one in 2005 (in that time I had moved to a different area too) but after that they said no practice has changed so only need one in a lifetime but that is OK for someone with no lung problems my consultant said we need one every 10 years so gave me one at the hospital last year - so manage to get it once every 10 years for the last 30 years. When I discussed this with my GP he agreed - however, he is retiring soon. I will just have to remember that the consultant told me this and ask again in 10 years time.

[Hidden]

As far as I'm aware only those with certain health conditions are eligible. Ask your doctor or nurse.

[freefaller in reply to Hidden]

My consultant believes - and my current GP agrees, that anyone with a chronic lung condition would need this every 10 years. Ask your consultant - quite often GPs, practice nurses just say no once in a lifetime now without thought as that is the general practice. Also everyone is trying to keep costs down which is a consideration in GP surgery. My partner and I have been refused somef tests recently as money is getting so tight but when we see the Doc and explain the situation quite often he agrees and goes ahead - if not we contact the relevant consultant and they ask the GP to do the tests or whatever.

[Nottobad]

Hi I was given the pneumonia jag when I was first dx with COPD in 2006. Then I got it again this year. After being dx with psoriatic arthritis my consultant at the rheumy clinic asked for me to have it. As with having psoriatic arthritis it attracts my immune system. So I will probably have to have it every 10 years. As others have surgested I would as your GP.

[Hidden]

Same as you I had pneumonia in hospital iv antibiotics. A couple of months later is asked should I have the jab and was told yes absolutely because of having the pneumonia and GP did it there and then. I believe it's down to the individual GP 's opinion to a great degree though as is the thoughts on how often to repeat it.ours reckons 5 years is good.so maybe it worth you requesting it.age dependant too- over 65 more likely to be given also.

[Help_61]

I get a jab every 5 years i have spent last 4 weeks in hospital with pneumonia septicaemia so I can't really see how the needle helps just had one early this year