Pneumococcal vaccination can be an effective way to help protect seniors and other adults with increased risk from pneumonia.
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness in people of all ages. But some people are at increased risk for getting pneumonia and for complications from the disease, including adults over age 65, people with chronic lung disease, people who have illnesses such as diabetes or chronic lung disease1, people who smoke, people who are immunocompromised due to cancer treatment or taking certain medications, and people with other serious illnesses such as heart disease2.
In addition to its own possible complications, pneumonia can lead to the worsening of pre-existing conditions, hospitalization, or even death. In fact, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, pneumonia was in the top 10 reasons for admission to hospital for all ages in many provinces in 2021-2022 and that same year, it was the number 10 reason for hospitalization for adults aged 65 and over across Canada3. It was also the number eight cause of death in 2018 amongst people living in Canada who were between the ages of 65 and 74 years at time of death4.
Pneumonia can seriously impact quality of life
Dr. Marla Shapiro, a family doctor and professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto, says that for seniors, pneumonia can truly be life-changing. “Your pre-pneumonia lung capacity may not return. You may have less energy and become more sedentary and lose your independence. It can cause increased frailty. It can impact your quality of life,” she says.
Dr. Shapiro notes that recurrent hospitalization with pneumonia in frail patients 65 years of age and older may be associated with a higher rate of death one year after being discharged5. “Also, in older people and adults hospitalized with pneumonia, there’s a higher rate of cardiovascular complications. For example, following hospitalization for pneumonia, there’s roughly a 19 per cent chance of a negative cardiac event, such as heart failure6,” she says.
But one way to help prevent pneumonia is vaccination7,8,9,10.
More awareness needed regarding pneumococcal vaccination
Most adults only receive one pneumococcal vaccination in their lifetime, while those with risk factors may receive another dose. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization set a target that by 2025, 80 per cent of adults aged 65 and over have one dose of pneumococcal vaccine11. But uptake is slow.
In 2021, 54.8 per cent of seniors 65 and older had received the vaccine, along with 26.2 per cent of adults aged 18 to 64 with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, lung disease, diabetes, and liver and heart disease12.
“There’s a lack of awareness. Many adults don’t even know there are pneumococcal vaccines. Others don’t think they’re recommended,” says Dr. Shapiro.
Vaccination is a strategy to help protect yourself
There has been significant progress made to help protect against pneumonia with the introduction of pneumococcal vaccines. However, the pattern of disease in adults has changed due to the benefit afforded to adults from routine childhood vaccines. Vaccination is still recommended in adults to help protect against pneumonia13.
Older adults or younger adults with chronic conditions can ask their doctor about pneumococcal vaccination, Dr. Shapiro says. Other ways to help prevent pneumonia may include washing your hands frequently, quitting smoking and maintaining your general health such as a healthy diet, rest, and regular exercise.
To learn more about vaccination, talk to your health care provider.
This article was sponsored by Merck Canada Inc.
Pneumococcal vaccination may not protect everyone who gets vaccinated. Side effects and allergic reactions can occur. Ask your health care professional if pneumococcal vaccination is right for you.
© 2024 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
