GET YOUR PNEUMONIA SHOTS

Pneumonia is a leading cause of hospitalization, and older adults are particularly vulnerable to infection. Protecting yourself with vaccines can help you stay healthy.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: 1 Pneumonia is very common

Dr. Vivien Brown is a family physician and a board member of Immunize Canada, which promotes the understanding and use of vaccines. She says that in her practice pneumonia is very common. While it's worse in the winter and around flu season, she sees patients with pneumonia in the summer too. “It can happen any time to anybody, but certain groups are at higher risk.”

2 Pneumococcal pneumonia is contagious

Pneumococcal pneumonia is a lung infection and the most common form of pneumococcal disease in adults. It is caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus pneu

moniae. The bacteria can spread from one person to another by droplets from the nose or mouth, by sneezing, coughing, kissing, or sharing items such as cigarettes. There are over 90 strains of the bacteria, but the majority of disease is caused by 15 of them.

3 It can result in serious complications

Pneumococcal pneumonia results in death in 5 to 7% of cases—even higher among older Canadians. Of all the viruses and bacteria examined in the 2010 Kwong report on infectious disease in Ontario, S. pneumoniae caused the highest number of deaths. Pneumonia accounted for the greatest proportion of premature deaths and healthy years of life lost.

4 Flu + pneumonia can be deadly

The flu lowers the body's ability to fight off other infections—which can lead to pneumonia or other complications. Pneumococcal infection is the most common complication of both seasonal and pandemic H1N1 influenza. Together, pneumonia and influenza are the eighth leading cause of death in Canada.

5 Adults 65+ are at risk

Young children and adults who are 65 years of age and older are at greater risk of serious complications from pneumonia. Anyone who has a weakened immune system, lives in a long-term care facility,

smokes, has a smoking-related disease, or has a chronic illness (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, HIV, asthma) is also at risk.

6 Vaccines help protect you

Two pneumococcal vaccines are currently available in Canada: Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23

7 Vaccination is routine in children

In Canada, babies and children under two years old are routinely given Prevnar 13. These vaccinations are free, paid for by the provinces and territories.

8 Adult and childhood immunization are different

Whereas childhood immunization eliminates disease, adult immunization decreases the severity of disease. Dr. Brown explains that you may still get pneumonia, but it's a less virulent form. “Our immune system is very robust when we're much younger and the vaccines take better. In general, the older you are, the less robust your immune system is—which is why older people get all kinds of diseases that younger people tend not to get.”

9 Prevnar 13 is effective in older adults

The Community Acquired Pneumonia Trial in Adults (CAPiTA) was conducted in the Netherlands from 2008 to 2013 among approximately 85,000 adults aged 65 and older.The results showed that immunizing with Prevnar 13 reduced the risk of community-acquired pneumonia (pneumonia in patients who don't live in a hospital, nursing home, or long-term facility) and invasive pneumococcal disease caused by the 13 strains in the vaccine.

10 NACI recommends Prevnar 13 for seniors

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is a scientific advisory committee that provides the Public Health Agency of Canada advice and recommendations for the use of vaccines. Based on the CAPiTA results, in June of 2016 NACI recommended Prevnar 13 for all adults aged 65 years and older. This is in addition to Pneumovax 23, which is already routinely covered for older adults.

11 Vaccinate is cost-effective

Vaccination reduces illness, hospitalization, deaths, and overall costs to healthcare systems. Pneumonia is the seventh most expensive medical condition in Canada. The cost of acute care hospital stays for patients with pneumonia cost $387 million in 2004–2005. In Ontario, the median cost to treat a patient with high-severity pneumonia is $20,114.

12 The provinces and territories decide what’s covered

The federal government is responsible for vaccine safety and makes recommendations on vaccine use, but the provincial and territorial governments set their own publicly funded immunization schedules based on things like budget, NACI recommendations, and identified priorities. According to Dr. Brown, “In general, when there's a NACI guideline, it does take a long time for the various governments to put it into the routine schedule. Just because it's recommended doesn't mean it's covered.”

13 Have you been immunized?

You likely haven't been immunized unless you're at high risk of pneumococcal disease. Ask your doctor.

THE VACCINES YOU SHOULD GET

Dr. Brown offers immunization to all her patients over 65, even if they're healthy.To her, immunization is like insurance. "The time to take it is when you're healthy, and you want to stay that way.” If you're aged 65 or older and haven't received a pneumococcal vaccine, NACI recommends getting Prevnar 13 and eight weeks later getting Pneumovax 23. If you've already received Pneumovax 23, NACI recommends waiting at least one year before getting Prevnar 13.