Do I Need the Pneumonia Shot if I Have Asthma?
Do I Need the Pneumonia Shot if I Have Asthma? Getting shots is no fun and you have had your flu shot, but should you get the pneumonia shot or pneumococcal vaccine as well?Answer: Asthma is a risk factor for invasive pneumococcal disease — what the pneumonia shot protects against. And while it is not as common as the flu, which you should protect yourself against annually with a flu shot, invasive pneumococcaal disease does have serious potential complications. So, yes, it makes sense to prevent the disease altogether by getting the pneumonia shot, if it’s recommended for you. Who Should Get the Pneumonia Shot: The CDC’s New Recommendations In January 2009, the Centers for Disease Control updated its recommendation for the pneumococcal vaccine. The recommendation states that you should receive the pneumococcal vaccine if you are: • Over the age of 65 • Between the ages of 18 and
