Pneumonia Vaccine - NHS and/or Boots?

[Ronnie101]

I would appreciate the wise advice of this forum on this question. I have already had the pneumonia vaccine through my local surgery, but with an eye on coronavirus I was wondering whether I should also get the pneumonia vaccine offered by Boots, which, I understand, is complementary to the NHS one, and expands the protection (according to Boots). It's not cheap at £70, but it may be a small price to pay to protect against coronavirus complications, if that's what it does.

The link to Boots is: boots.com/health-pharmacy-a...

Any thoughts?

Many thanks

[HeronNS]

Pneumonia vaccines will not have any protection against covid19 itself, but it will protect you against getting a secondary infection, such as pneumonia. As it's often the secondary infection which becomes most serious I'd say it's worth it.

[HeronNS]

However, if you've been on an immunosuppressant are you not eligible to receive the second pneumonia vaccine from the NHS?

[Ronnie101 in reply to HeronNS]

Thanks for your response, I did appreciate that it would give no protection against the virus, but it seems that those people who do succumb to it and are in the older and/immuno compromised age groups, often do contract pneumonia.

I'll check with my surgery as I would be eligible for the second vaccine. They haven't mentioned it. I was also thinking about my wife, who is not 65 until the end of April, and she has been refused it.

[HeronNS in reply to Ronnie101]

She could try again as it protects you if she is also immunized.

[Marijo1951]

My understanding is that the pneumonia vaccine (which I had last November) protects against bacterial pneumonia, but not viral pneumonia. So I've assumed that, if one had COVID-19, being vaccinated would be no protection against developing pneumonia. Is that correct?

[Hunter134 in reply to Marijo1951]

That is correct.This is a virus which we have no protection against.

[Ronnie101 in reply to Hunter134]

Are you saying that the pneumonia which may develop as a complication of coronavirus is definitely viral, and not bacterial? Could you quote the source of that please? I have looked for some information on this and can't find any, except that a study of infected patients in China found that their outcomes were not affected by administration of antibiotics (and methylprednisolone, interestingly).

jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...

To be clear, I do understand that the coronavirus is viral, not bacterial, and that the pneumonia vaccine will not protect against coronavirus. It is the bacterial complications which I am seeking to get some protection against.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Ronnie101]

They may happen in addition - but the Covid pneumonia is different:

theguardian.com/world/2020/...

Cheery reading - but it does explain it.

[Marijo1951 in reply to PMRpro]

Gosh, depressing - but best to be well informed about the possibilities I suppose.

[Hidden in reply to Ronnie101]

I think it's asking a lot of the body to go through two pneumonias but as the article says the y will ply you with antivirals a d antibiotics... Maybe I suspect. I also suspect its a nobody knows yet question. It may help protect from secondary bacterial pneumonia, but if you haven't had the vaccines already then I doubt it help much now. Usually if you do the 2 jab vaccine you need time between.. Up to a year. Even tben....

"The PPV vaccine is thought to be around 50 to 70% effective at preventing pneumococcal disease."

Think that was CDC website but not sure... Cut a d paste into Google if you need to read it.

But you are in the realm of the unknown as far as I can see. And certainly trying to get it now probably wouldn't help but you could ring your Dr and ask.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It would be a good thing in general - but it won't necessarily protect you from the pneumonia associated with Covid19. The vaccines are for bacterial infections, Covid19 is viral. But deaths are often due to pneumonia secondary to the Covid19 infection. I can't find anything with real details.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

This hints at improved aftercare after discharge with covid due to possible bacterial secondary pneumonia....

That is enough for me I. Terms of ensuri g you are covered for bacterial.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/3...

[SnazzyD]

It might help with any secondary bacterial infection which is a risk whenever respiratory tissue is compromised but only some pneumococcal strains are in the vaccine and not every causative organism. Response to the vaccine is also reduced by immunosuppression but it’s better than nothing.

[Ronnie101]

Thanks to all for the responses. I'm still not clear whether we should pay for the additional Boots vaccine, but I'll take advice to contact the surgery.

[HeronNS in reply to Ronnie101]

My husband has been vulnerable to pneumonia for many years. He has had both vaccines. They cover different strains, of course. He could only get the second through our public system because of his medical history and the doctor actually mentioned to him (although never to me) that she could probably justify giving me the second shot because I was on pred. I think, covid19 or not, if you can get the shot, and especially if NHS covers it, you should.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Ronnie101]

If you are entitled to the vaccination on the NHS get it on the NHS.

Speak to the surgery about the need for your wife to be free of certain conditions as well because of your vulnerable health status.

If she is still refused you can pay for it to be done for your wife privately via your own surgery .

The Pneumonia vaccinations as others have said are worth having for protection from various pneumonias as not catching other illnesses and remaining strong in general is helpful in reducing our risk of getting or coping with a severe form of Covid 19.

The Pneumonia symptoms related to Covid 19 are not the same as typical Pneumonias either viral or bacterial though , in fact I have heard them being called " Pneumonia like" by many medics recently as they don't respond in the usual way to typical pneumonia treatment.

[Koalajane]

I hadn’t realised that there were 2 injections. I thought the one I was given at the surgery was the only one and that it would last for life

[HeronNS in reply to Koalajane]

I know they tell us it will last for life but I read about them and I think they wear off after a few years.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

The two injections are for different strains of bacteria and in combination cover over 30 different strains.

The original version of the vaccine required a booster after 5 to 10 years but the newer one is supposed to last for life. They can't really tell how long immunity will persist until they see what happens in real time.

[Galloping]

I had the pneumonia vaccine many years ago and was told then that it lasted ten years. When I enquired recently about getting a booster I was told the original lasted for life, GP never mentioned a second vaccine so I think I'm going to ask about it and also about the first one wearing off.

[Hidden in reply to Galloping]

I have also had one 20 years ago that they said lasted 10yrs but then said its a lifetime one.

[Riversnan]

My surgery refused to let me have the pneumonia jab as they said it was a live virus and I had PMR????????

Any comments on this please,

Many Tahnks.

[Highlandtiger in reply to Riversnan]

I was told I wasn’t on a high enough dose of pred to get it just now but that I’d get it at 65 (something else to look forward to I said....) despite me having life threatening pneumonia 2 years earlier!

[Ronnie101 in reply to Riversnan]

My GP and consultant recommended that I had it, and confirmed that it would have no contraindications with pred or GCA/ PMR

[Hidden in reply to Ronnie101]

Then why didn't they give you the injection? If its a live vaccine then it's not usually recommended. But if they both recommended it I don't understand why you didn't ask them to do it or make an appointment for it. We have provided a few things to read but you are asking us to predict the future.

[Ronnie101 in reply to Hidden]

They did. To quote my first post, above, "I would appreciate the wise advice of this forum on this question. I have already had the pneumonia vaccine through my local surgery, but with an eye on coronavirus I was wondering whether I should also get the pneumonia vaccine offered by Boots".

I am not asking you to "predict the future", merely asking for advice. I wondered if anybody had had BOTH injections.

[Hidden in reply to Ronnie101]

It really depend which va cine you had and whether it's a live vaccine you have been advised to have.

[Hidden in reply to Ronnie101]

I was referring to your subsidiary questions. No I e really knows if the existing injections will offer protection because there is not the evidence there yet. The guardian article is basically saying patients who do get second bacterial pneumonia will be treated with antibiotics. Until its know if the bacterial infections are covered there's no knowledge.

[Hidden in reply to Ronnie101]

My apologies if it sounded sharp. I have been looking at c19 questions since 5am so jumbled after a week of research and pmr etc.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Ronnie101]

That is a decision for the doctor - it is a benefit for some,

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Riversnan]

Live vaccines and pred don't really go well together,

[Riversnan]

Thank you both for your replies, I actually went to the surgery and was turned down by the nurse

who refused to do it as it was a live virus☹️.

I any ring the surgery and query this.

Thank you.

[desertloft]

You'll probably want to make sure that it will work against this virus, as the normal Flu shop will not. Not sure about a Pneumonia shot?

[Riversnan]

Thank you.