Whether it is fatigue, fear, disbelief, or otherwise, vaccines have been making headlines for the last several years. Many people wonder about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Do they help you? Can they hurt you? Is it even worth your time? I am going to review a few aspects of the flu and pneumonia vaccines to (hopefully) ease any fears or concerns that you might have.
First, let’s review a bit about flu viruses. There are four different types of influenza (flu) viruses. Influenza A and B are the types that can commonly cause severe flu symptoms in humans. From these two types, they are again divided into more specific varieties based on their makeup. Researchers do their best before each flu season to create a flu vaccine that they hope will protect you from the most common types of influenza A and B. How do they pick? Well, they look at information reported by the CDC and local health departments to determine which types of flu (also known as strains) to include in the vaccine.
It’s important to know that the flu vaccine is not a live virus. The flu shot is made with a flu virus that has been killed or with only one protein from a live virus. You cannot get the flu by getting the flu shot. Sometimes, people can experience symptoms like redness at the injection site, tiredness, or a slight fever after getting the vaccine. However, these symptoms are likely your body’s normal immune response. It is also a possibility that you can have an allergic reaction to a flu shot, yet this is uncommon. The CDC recommends that adults get their flu shot once a year.1 So you might ask yourself, “Why shouldn’t I just get the flu to have natural immunity? Wouldn’t it be safer than getting the flu shot?” You wouldn’t want to get the flu because when you have a lung condition like COPD, bronchiectasis, or NTM lung disease, you are at a higher risk of developing severe complications from the flu.2
Another popular vaccine is the pneumonia vaccine (aka “pneumococcal”). This vaccine helps protect people from pneumococcal bacteria. These bacteria are harmful and can cause conditions like pneumonia, meningitis, and even sepsis. For those with COPD, bronchiectasis, and other lung conditions, you are at an increased risk of getting pneumococcal and it is recommended that you get this vaccine.3 Like the flu shot, most people tolerate this vaccination well. Side effects like redness at the injection site, fatigue, and muscle soreness can sometimes happen.4
When is it best to get these vaccines? You can get the pneumonia vaccine at any time. Most private insurances cover the cost of this vaccine and Medicare Part B covers 100% of the cost. It is best to get the flu vaccine in the early fall. This is typically the time before we see the numbers of those with flu on the rise. It takes about 2 weeks for the body to build antibodies (part of the body’s tagging system for viruses and bacteria) to help protect itself from getting the flu.1
In my opinion, the flu and pneumonia vaccines are definitely a “hit”. Although not 100% effective, they can help prevent those with lung conditions from getting viruses and bacteria and reduce the odds of them experiencing severe symptoms. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to get vaccinated this year!
Resources:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine. Updated Dec. 19, 2022. Accessed Jul 26, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm
2. Mallia P, Johnston SL. Influenza infection and COPD. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2007;2(1):55-64. doi:10.2147/copd.2007.2.1.55
3. Walters JA, Tang JN, Poole P, Wood-Baker R. Pneumococcal vaccines for preventing pneumonia in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;1(1):CD001390. Published 2017 Jan 24. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001390.pub4
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pneumococcal Vaccination. Updated Jan 20, 2023. Accessed Jul 26, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/vaccination.html