How The Pneumococcal Vaccine Works
Both types of pneumococcal vaccine encourage your body to produce antibodies against pneumococcal bacteria.
Antibodies are proteins produced by the body to neutralise or destroy disease-carrying organisms and toxins.
They protect you from becoming ill if you’re infected with the bacteria.
More than 90 different strains of the pneumococcal bacterium have been identified, although most of these strains do not cause serious infections.
The childhood vaccine protects against 13 strains of the pneumococcal bacterium, while the adult vaccine protects against 23 strains.
Will Being Vaccinated Against Flu Pneumonia And Shingles Help Prevent Covid
The short answer is no. But reducing your risk for getting sick with the flu, pneumonia, or shingles which is what these vaccines do makes a lot of sense during the pandemic, Privor-Dumm says.
Lowering your risk for vaccine-preventable diseases will help you avoid doctors offices and hospitals, which will reduce any potential exposure to the coronavirus, Privor-Dumm adds.
Plus, Privor-Dumm says, Preventing serious disease can help keep you out of the hospital at a time when health resources may be needed to treat COVID-19 patients.
Pneumococcal Disease And Covid
The measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 also help prevent pneumococcal bacteria from spreading.
Not all infections involving pneumococcal bacteria or the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 involve a serious course of illness. A large percentage of people do not get ill or develop a relatively mild case. However, there are people who have a higher risk of developing pneumococcal disease, or are more likely to have a serious course of illness as a result. That usually involves pneumonia. These people often also have a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. That may be the case due to older age, or a chronic disease that affects the heart, lungs, kidneys or immune system.
If you have had severe pneumonia due to COVID-19 and then develop pneumococcal disease, or the other way around, you could become very ill. A new infection involving a different virus or bacterium in lungs that are already damaged could be more serious. The recovery phase could be longer or more difficult as a result.
There are people who have a higher risk of getting COVID-19, flu, or pneumococcal disease. This may be due to their age, a chronic illness, or decreased immunity due to illness or medication. It is unknown how likely it is that someone would have a serious infection with more than one of these at the same time.
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Flu Vaccine During Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, you should get the flu vaccine as soon as possible.This is because pregnant people are more at risk of complications from flu.
If you are pregnant through two flu seasons , you may needto get two flu vaccines . Readmore about the flu vaccine during pregnancy.
You may be able to get the flu vaccine on the same day as the whoopingcough vaccine.
When To Get The Flu Shot
Flu season typically runs from late fall to early spring.
Flu shots are now available for all Ontarians. You should get a flu shot as soon as possible because it takes two weeks to take effect.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization now recommends that COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time as the flu vaccine.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacy to learn more.
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Flu Vaccine For Frontline Health And Social Care Workers
If you’re a frontline health and social care worker, your employer should offer you a flu vaccine. They may give the vaccine at your workplace.
You can also have an NHS flu vaccine at a GP surgery or a pharmacy if:
- you’re a health or social care worker employed by a registered residential care or nursing home, registered homecare organisation or a hospice
- you work in NHS primary care and have direct contact with patients this includes contractors, non-clinical staff and locums
- you provide health or social care through direct payments or personal health budgets, or both
Administration With Other Vaccines
Never administer PCV13 and PPSV23 during the same visit. If a patient needs both vaccines, you should administer PCV13 first, followed by PPSV23 at another visit. The interval between administrations depends on the age of the patient, the indication for giving it, and which vaccine you administer first. See the table below for additional information.
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* Medical conditions include cochlear implants, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, functional or anatomic asplenia, and immunocompromising conditions like HIV infection, cancer, or chronic renal failure.
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Flu Shot Side Effects : What’s Normal And What’s Cause For Concern
All vaccines have the potential to cause side effects, and that includes your yearly flu shot. But most are totally normal.
The coronavirus is still a very real concern this fall, but so is the influenza virus, aka the flu. The good news is we have very safe and effective tools for fighting and preventing both potentially deadly viruses, thanks to the COVID-19 vaccines and the flu vaccine.
According to the CDC, flu shots are safe and one of the best ways to keep from getting and spreading the flu to others. And people who get vaccinated and get sick anyway often experience less severe symptoms. If you’re thinking of getting vaccinated for both COVID-19 and the flu, the CDC says it is safe to get both vaccines together .
The simple fact is, flu vaccines can save lives. There are plenty of myths out there about the flu vaccine, such as the idea that it can give you the flu. While that’s not true, you can experience some side effects from the flu shot. The side effects are usually mild and nothing to worry about, but it’s important to know about them so you’re not worried when you get your vaccine.
Below, Dr. Carmen Teague, specialty medical director at Atrium Health‘s Mecklenburg Medical Group shares what you need to know about common flu shot side effects that are normal, and which side effects may be a sign of something more serious.
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Influenza And Pneumonia Vaccination For Adult Patients Undergoing Treatment For Cancer
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The Influenza Vaccine
The flu vaccine is aimed at protecting people who are most at risk from catching or spreading flu. As the strain of flu virus changes every year this means it is necessary to have the flu vaccine annually during the autumn or early winter. There are 2 different types of influenza vaccine recommended this year for adults by the Department of Health, both of which are inactivated vaccines . For those under the age of 65 the Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine is recommended. For those over the age of 65 the Adjuvanted Trivalent Influenza Vaccine is recommended.
Should people who are having cancer treatment have a flu vaccine?
Yes. The Department of Health and Cancer Research UK recommend vaccination for people who are immunosuppressed because of disease or treatment. It is especially important this year, during the COVID-19 pandemic to have a flu vaccine. It is essential to be protected from flu as those who develop both flu and COVID together tend to be more unwell and are more likely to need to be admitted to hospital. If you are having, or have recently finished, cancer treatment you should ask about the vaccine.
Can the flu vaccines actually cause flu?
No. Most types of flu vaccination do not contain any live virus, so they cannot cause flu. However, you should not have the intra-nasal flu vaccine as this does contain live flu virus.
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NEW YORK, NY Giving young children the influenza and pneumococcal vaccines together appears to increase their risk of fever, according to a study led by researchers from Columbia University Medical Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . However, the fever was brief, and medical care was sought for few children, supporting the routine immunization schedule for these vaccines, including the recommendation to administer them simultaneously. The study, which looked at children 623 months old, was published online on Jan. 6, 2014, in JAMA Pediatrics.
Public health experts agree that timely immunizations are an important means of protection against serious diseases and infections for people of all ages. The CDC and other medical professional organizations often recommend giving the influenza and pneumococcal vaccines at the same visit, if both are dueboth to prevent getting influenza or other infections between visits and to avoid a possible delay in vaccinations due to difficulty returning to the clinic .
Parents should be made aware that their child might develop a fever following simultaneous influenza and pneumococcal vaccinationsbut that the benefits of these vaccines outweigh the risk of fever and, in most cases, the fever will be brief, said Dr. Stockwell. For the small group of children who must avoid fever, these findings provide important information for clinicians and parents.
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Signs Of A More Serious Reaction
“A very small percentage of people can have a true allergic reaction to the vaccine, including chest tightness, difficulty breathing, wheezing, facial or throat swelling and redness of the eyes,” Teague says. If you experience these symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately. Teague says severe allergic reactions usually happen within a few hours of getting the flu shot.
Signs of a severe allergic reaction, according to the CDC, can include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling around the eyes or lips
- Hives
- Weakness
- A fast heartbeat or dizziness
Another possible reaction is an infection where the shot was administered. “Patients can also develop an infection at the injection site, which is manifested as worsening redness, swelling, warmth and tenderness,” Teague says. You should also seek immediate medical attention for this type of reaction.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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Getting Multiple Vaccines At The Same Time Has Been Shown To Be Safe
Scientific data show that getting several vaccines at the same time does not cause any chronic health problems. A number of studies have been done to look at the effects of giving various combinations of vaccines, and when every new vaccine is licensed, it has been tested along with the vaccines already recommended for a particular aged child. The recommended vaccines have been shown to be as effective in combination as they are individually. Sometimes, certain combinations of vaccines given together can cause fever, and occasionally febrile seizures these are temporary and do not cause any lasting damage. Based on this information, both the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend getting all routine childhood vaccines on time.
Planning To Get The Covid And Influenza Vaccine Together
Studies have shown that inoculating an influenza vaccine at the exact same time as the covid-19 vaccine presented no safety concerns and preserves the immune response to both vaccines. The advantage of getting them together is if you do get side effects, you’ll only get them once. Getting both vaccines around the same time but not on the same day is fine too.
The impact of vaccination on an individual’s health is hard to exaggerate. It is estimated that vaccines prevent approximately 6 million deaths from preventable diseases annually. The only health benefit perceived by most vaccine recipients is their direct protection at an individual level. The added value of vaccination, on a population level, is the potential to generate herd immunity. When a sufficiently good proportion of the population is vaccinated, the transmission of the disease is halted thus also protecting the unvaccinated, who may be too young, too vulnerable, or too immunosuppressed to receive vaccines themselves.
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What Happens If You Get A Flu Shot And Pneumonia Shot At The Same Time
Thus the main ways to prevent pneumonia are to get the flu shot, get the pneumonia vaccine, and of course quit smoking. I just had both administered to me recently.
Flu And Covid-19 Vaccines At The Same Time Osf Healthcare
Who Should Not Have The Flu Vaccine
Most adults can have the flu vaccine, but you should avoid it if you have had a serious allergic reaction to a flu vaccine in the past.
You may be at risk of an allergic reaction to the flu vaccine injection if you have an egg allergy. This is because some flu vaccines are made using eggs.
Ask a GP or pharmacist for a low-egg or egg-free vaccine.
If you’re ill with a high temperature, it’s best to wait until you’re better before having the flu vaccine.
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Yes But Heres What To Know About Timing All Your Vaccines This Fall
by Michelle Crouch, AARP, September 10, 2021
En español | September and October are big months for flu shots, but this year, it’s also when COVID-19 booster shots could start rolling out. So you may be wondering: Is it OK to get your flu shot and COVID-19 booster at the same time?
Absolutely, health experts say. In fact, many doctors plan to encourage Americans to get both at once.
“It’s two for the price of one, says Ranit Mishori, M.D., a professor of family medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Get one in each arm. It’s an efficient and effective way to make sure you’re protected.” Mishori notes that the same goes for those who are immunocompromised and might want to time their third dose to their flu shot.
It’s important for older adults to get both shots this year because COVID-19 cases are surging, fueled by the spread of the more contagious delta variant, just as the flu season is set to begin. Both diseases are especially dangerous for those over 65.
Although the flu season was nonexistent last year, experts expect a comeback this year with K-12 students back in school, more people traveling and fewer COVID-19 restrictions in place.
Ideal Window To Get Your Flu Shot
There is non-stop influenza activity across the country, with seasonal peaks during monsoon and winter. There is an ever-increasing number of influenza-like illnesses affecting a large number of children who transmit the disease to their peers and adult counterparts very easily.
In resource-rich nations, the influenza vaccine is administered to every individual annually. While it may not be practical to administer routine influenza vaccinations to everyone in India, the vaccination for high-risk groups such as the elderly, children below 5 years, medical practitioners, and pregnant women should be considered on priority.
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Who Is Most At Risk
Complications from the flu can include serious conditions, like pneumonia or heart attacks and, in some cases, death. Flu causes about 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths in Canada each year.
Some people are more vulnerable to complications and hospitalization from the flu:
- babies under 6 months old are too young to get the flu shot, but they’ll get some protection if their parent got the flu shot while they were pregnant
- children under 5 years of age, because their immune systems are developing, and their airways are small and more easily blocked
- people 65 years old and older, because their immune systems are weaker and they are more likely to have an underlying condition that increases their risk
- pregnant people, because their immune system, heart and lungs change especially later in pregnancy making them more likely to get seriously ill from the flu
- people with underlying health conditions, such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes
Who Should Get Vaccinated This Fall
Really, everyone over 6 months old should get the flu shot, especially because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although you can still get the flu even after youve been vaccinated knowing youve had it will likely help your healthcare team diagnose you if you develop symptoms that may be shared by COVID-19 and flu, such as:
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If You Get The Flu During That Time You Probably Were Exposed Before Your Vaccination Or Exposed To Different Strains Than Are Contained In The Current Vaccine
Can you get a flu shot and pneumonia shot the same day. You can’t get the flu from the vaccine, but it does take at least two weeks after you get vaccinated for your immune system to build up a defense. Additionally, the doctor revealed she gives certain vaccines on the same day in her own office, such as the pneumonia and flu shots, since. If these problems occur, they usually go away within about 2 days.
Reactions where the shot was given redness The pneumonia vaccine is an injection that prevents you from contracting pneumococcal disease. However, people who get the flu are more likely to get pneumonia, which is why the flu shot is often cited as a way to prevent pneumonia.
Mild problems following ppsv23 can include: Typically, youll get one vaccine, wait a year, and then get the second immunization. You can administer either pneumonia vaccine and the flu shot during the same visit, dr.
Ask your doctor for more information. In general, the cdc recommends pneumonia vaccines for young kids, older. The flu shot is recommended as a yearly vaccine for a couple of reasons per the cdc.
Since the protection lessens over time, a yearly vaccine adds the protection boost needed for each flu season. Flu viruses are constantly changing. Influenza vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines, including pneumococcal vaccine.
Where can i get vaccinated? The flu vaccine offers people immunity protection only for a period of time. It did not come from the vaccine.