I saw my doctor yesterday for a routine check-up and can confirm there is now a second type of pneumonia vaccine — PCV13 (Prevnar 13) — being recommended for seniors. It is different from the one most of us have already gotten — PPSV23 (Pneumovax). I got mine today and although your experience may be different, the only side effect I’ve noticed is minor soreness and redness at the injection site.
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) is recommended for all children younger than 5 years old, all adults 65 years or older, and people 6 years or older with certain risk factors.
Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) is recommended for all adults 65 years or older. People 2 years through 64 years of age who are at high risk of pneumococcal disease should also receive PPSV23.
Both vaccines have been available for some time, but the CDC had not previously recommended Prevnar 13 vaccine for seniors.
Be sure to ask your doctor about this new pneumonia vaccine before the winter flu and pneumonia season begins.
Thanks for the heads-up. We’ll do it. 🙂
Glad to hear that. We all want to stay healthy this winter and beyond.
This is a very important post. Pneumonia is often the secondary illness that kills. If you’re around crowds/people/alive, you’re at risk.
I thank you for mentioning it when we were discussing flu shots. Otherwise I wouldn’t have known to ask about it.
Glad you’ve been all shot up (insert giggles) (Shivering at Trail Ridge.)
🙂
Thanks for this info!
You’re welcome!
Where are the second shots available?
Note this post is four years old. There are two kinds of pneumonia vaccines available to seniors now, and either one or both are available wherever you usually get your vaccines. I get mine either from my primary care physician or my pharmacist. If you have any questions, ask your doctor.
Not available at pharmacies
I don’t recall now where I got mine. It’s been a few years. But ask your doctor. Especially as we age (I’m 75), we can’t be too careful about pneumonia.