Show #273 Airing Sunday, October 17, 2004
A chill in the air is a good reminder that it’s time to avoid the chills from the flu by getting a flu shot. And it’s not new, but a pneumonia vaccine can save your life, too. Here to explain is Dr. Joseph Sopko, pulmonary consultant for Ohio KePRO.
Question: Now’s the time to get a flu shot this year, correct?
Answer: Yes, from now until the end of December is the appropriate time. Seniors should remember that they should get a flu shot every year. The shot itself is different, specifically developed to fight that year’s prevalent flu strain.
Question: There’s also another vaccination seniors should consider receiving, and that’s the pneumonia vaccination. Who should get that? Why is the pneumonia vaccine so important?
Answer: Anyone 65 and older should receive a pneumonia vaccination. You only need it once, and the immunization is covered by Medicare (as are your flu shots).
Pneumococcal pneumonia is the most common type of bacterial pneumonia in person 65 years of age an older. Pneumonia is to blame for up to 12,500 deaths each year in the United States. About half of these deaths could be prevented by the use of the pneumonia vaccine.
Together, pneumonia and influenza are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. (And this can happen in younger, healthy people, like Jim Henson.)
Getting a pneumonia vaccine might not actually stop you from getting pneumonia, but it DOES prevent the life-threatening consequences of the disease, like meningitis and septic shock.
Question: Are people actually getting these life-saving vaccinations?
Answer: Here in Ohio, it used to be that only 12 percent of the population that SHOULD have had the pneumonia shot had received it. We’ve now managed to get that number up to 30 percent.
The numbers for the best state in the nation are only around 50%.
Question: Can you get sick from the pneumonia or flu shots?
Answer: No. Flu shots contain a DEAD virus. You cannot get sick from that.
The pneumonia vaccine contains some of the protein from the bacteria that causes the disease. Again, you can’t get sick.
Some people might suffer from a local reaction, like soreness in the arm, or occasionally a low-grade temperature. But in the pneumonia vaccine, even that is very rare.
Question: How can you tell the difference between a cold, the flu, and pneumonia?
Answer: With a cold, you don’t have a fever and have clear phlegm.
Influenza often begins with weakness, fatigue, and muscle aches, which then develop into a fever.
Pneumonia really isn’t accompanied by aches. You have coughing, a fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, and yellow or bloody mucus/phlegm.
Often, pneumonia can develop after someone has the flu, and that can be very dangerous.
Flu and pneumonia shots can prevent these things from happening. If you call KePRO, we would be happy to send out a brochure with more information on the pneumonia vaccine.
Or you can log on to our website to find out places where you can “Vote and Vaccinate.” These are polls that will be immunizing voters age 65 years and older for flu and pneumonia on Election Day.
Flu and pneumonia shots can save your life. Don’t mess around, get them now. For a free brochure contact Ohio KePRO. Or check their website for information about getting vaccinations at some of the polling places on election day. My thanks to Dr. Joseph Sopko.
