Should i be scared to get a pnemonia vaccine?

[myrtlebeach0110]

I have very severe COPD and have never gotten a pnemonia shot before. i did get my influenza vaccine though. I live in the south and am wondering if i should let this years pnemonia shot go since we only have 6 weeks of winter left here. I read the side effects and they scare me. I just don't want to get sick. if I have a bad reaction to the vaccine I live alone and it won't be good. I do understand that if I caught pnemonia that would be even worse, I am just scared.

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Please get your pneumonia jab at least you are covered then. We can get pneumonia any time of the year. XXX Bernadette 😳

[myrtlebeach0110 in reply to Damon1864]

Thank you

[PMRPete]

It's only once! NOT yearly.

"If you are at increased risk of a pneumococcal infection, you will be given the PPV vaccination just once, and generally this will protect you for life."

"If you are 65 or over, you will be offered a type of pneumo jab known as the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV). This one-off vaccination is very effective at protecting you against serious forms of pneumococcal infection."

nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinati...?

[myrtlebeach0110 in reply to PMRPete]

Thank you, I did not realize it was a one time vaccine. That makes my decision much easier. It is not the shot itself that scares me, it is the fear of catching pneumonia from the pneumonia vaccine for I have read some people catch the flu from getting a flu shot. in my severity of COPD, it would be much easier dealing with the flu than a case of pneumonia. Pneumonia could literally kill me with my lungs. My FEV1 is 17%. I am 54 years old

[O2Trees in reply to PMRPete]

Actually Pete, Ive had two - Ive been told they kind of wear off after 10 years. I had my first in 2001, then got very serious pneumonia early in 2015 and was told I needed another. Never had any side effects from either of them and having pneumonia is dreadful, so best protect yourself myrtlebeach

[PMRPete in reply to O2Trees]

For some people with serious problems they only last 5 years; I just quoted the normal from the NHS.

[Hidden]

Hi..

I got Prevenar, it wasn’t scarier than a flu jab. In doubt ask your GP. Which south? Of England? Winter lasts till end of March at least, and it is not a winter virus like flu..it can be a bacterial infection..but see with your GP..

Good luck x

[myrtlebeach0110 in reply to Hidden]

Oh sorry, I am in South Carolina USA. Thanks for the info. My GP doesn't tell me much, I have to ask about anything and everything. i was the one to ask for the vaccine too. Just a little scared about catching pneumonia from the vaccine.

[Hidden in reply to myrtlebeach0110]

You can never catch a disease from a vaccine, the bacteria are inactivated. You can get side effects however. Something like aches and pains up to 48 hours. I personally didn’t get anything.

[O2Trees in reply to Hidden]

48 hours aches etc is kind of minor compared with full blown pneumonia.

[myrtlebeach0110 in reply to O2Trees]

So true!

[myrtlebeach0110 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. That I can deal with!

[insanemoose]

I'm 43 and living in the UK I had to ask for one as i am under 60. I received the flu and pneumococcal vaccination at the same appointment 2 months ago and had no side effects from either. Good luck x

[Stumpy55]

Hello myrtlebeach0110, I also have very severe copd and last year I had my pheumonia jab because the year previous I was in hospital with pheumonia which was aweful. I had a chest infection just before last Christmas but even though I was hospitalised it wasn't as bad as having pheumonia. Its entirely up to you what you do obvcourse. ✋️😊