What Are The Side Effects
Vaccines are very safe. It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get pneumococcal disease.
Many people have no side effects from the vaccines. For those that do, side effects are usually mild and last 1 to 2 days . Serious side effects are very rare.
It is important to stay in the clinic for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine because there is a very rare possibility, between one in 100,000 and one in a million, of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue or lips. Should this reaction occur, your health care provider is prepared to treat it. Emergency treatment includes injection of epinephrine and transfer by ambulance to the nearest emergency department. If symptoms develop after you leave the clinic, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
It is important to always report serious or unexpected reactions to your immunizing health care provider.
How To Stay Safe
Given that COVID-19 is a respiratory illness just as pneumonia is, it is important to do your best to minimize your risk of contracting COVID-19, which could potentially cause severe respiratory complications.
The same precautions you’ve been taking to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic will, of course, keep you safe from developing pneumonia secondary to COVID-19, too. Be diligent about wearing a well-fitting mask, social distancing, and washing your hands.
A few other tips to keep in mind for recovery from pneumonia are to:
- Control your fever with NSAIDs or acetaminophen .
- Drink plenty of fluids to help loosen secretions and to cough up phlegm.
- Avoid taking cough medicines before talking to your doctor first because coughing is one of the ways your body is working to get rid of the pneumonia infection.
- Drink warm beverages like tea or hot water.
- Use a humidifier, and take steamy baths or showers to help open your airway and ease your breathing.
- Stay away from smoke to allow your lungs to heal themselves. If you are a smoker, this would be a good time to think about quitting.
- Get rest. Stay home and take it easy for a while until you feel better and stronger.
These are all things you can do from the safety and comfort of your own home. Taking care of yourself and seeking medical care as needed can help keep you safe from COVID-19.
How Many Minutes Is Considered Exposure To Someone With Covid
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers a close contact someone who has been within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
But given that researchers are concerned the delta variant might be more transmissible, Dr. Stephen Schrantz, an infectious disease pediatrician at University of Chicago Medicine, said deltas increased contagiousness should give the CDC some reason to re-examine its definition of an exposure. He added, I will not be surprised if the CDC does amend its recommendations regarding the duration of contact as more data accumulates.
Alison Bowen
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About The Pneumonia Vaccine
Pneumonia is a common enough illness, but its one that can have potentially devastating reactions. Fortunately, theres a way to prevent the serious side effects of the disease, and possibly prevent someone from getting it to begin with.
The pneumonia vaccine is a safe way to prevent most cases, and effectively lowers the chances of catching the disease entirely. People who do get pneumonia after getting the pneumonia vaccination anyway will have a much milder case of the disease if they do happen to contract it.
Doctors Support The Change
Richard Watkins, MD, an infectious disease physician and a professor of internal medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University, tells Verywell that there was never any compelling evidence for the previous recommendation, adding, I am glad it has been changed.
Watkins says that the move may help more children get vaccinated, noting the convenience factor. Under the updated guidance, families only have to make one trip to get vaccinated instead of several under the previous recommendations, he says.
John Schreiber, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, tells Verywell that the changed guidance seems like a reasonable thing to do.
Schreiber anticipates that some parents may still be wary to give their children other vaccines at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine, but say that new recommendations are sound.
I dont have any concerns with this, Schreiber says. But, he adds, the CDC and AAP will monitor children to see what happens next. If it turns out that children are complaining about more side effects after getting vaccinated, Im sure the recommendations can be modified.”
The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.
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Do Vaccinated Students Have To Quarantine If They Are Exposed To Covid
No. According to Emily Young, a spokeswoman with the Lake County Health Department, they should get tested 3-5 days after exposure and mask around others until they receive a negative result. Vaccinated students who test positive do have to isolate for 10 days from onset of symptoms, or the test date if they are asymptomatic.
Im Pregnant And Concerned About Mixing Vaccines Is A Booster Ok During Pregnancy Is There Anything Women Should Consider When Deciding When And Which To Get
According to Dr. Emily Miller, assistant professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Northwestern Medicines Feinberg School of Medicine, while there is no data about vaccine mixing or boosters, specific to pregnant people, there is great data that the vaccine itself is safe in pregnancy.
Theres no reason with the first doses of the vaccine and the data on safety to suspect that the booster would be unsafe, Lewis said. Through the lens of protecting pregnant people from getting critically ill, the booster is the best way to do that.
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines in December 2020 , it wasnt until August 2021 that vaccines in pregnant people were recommended by the CDC. The CDC recommended Pfizer, Moderna and J& J booster shots Oct. 21, 2021. The new CDC guidance allows recipients to mix and match their original vaccine brand with a booster of their choice.
Some reasons to switch to a different brand might be if the individual had a particularly bad reaction to the mRNA technology included in both Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or if availability of their initial series is limited.
Miller said it took months from when the initial vaccination was introduced to the public to gather enough data to find out if it was safe enough to put vaccines in the arm of a pregnant person. But boosters are a little bit less of a stretch. Research continues, however.
Darcel Rockett
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What You Need To Know About Pneumonia And Flu Shots
This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.
Recently, Oprah got pneumonia. Then she went on Ellen to recommend that everyone get their flu and pneumonia shots. Given that only 42 per cent of Canadians over the age of 65 got the pneumonia vaccine in 2016, maybe Oprah can get us over the 80 per cent target.
Sadly, Oprah has not always been a strong advocate for science. She gave a platform to Jenny McCarthy when she started claiming that vaccines caused her sons autism, and she also introduced the world to Dr. Oz.
But as Oprah explained to Ellen, pneumonia is no joke. Around 1.5 million people are hospitalized with pneumonia every year. Around 100,000 die in hospital and a third of people hospitalized with pneumonia die within the year.
Older patients are at greater risk and so are those with pre-existing lung disease. Smoking is also a risk factor for pneumonia, so if you need an extra incentive to stop smoking, this is it. But the main way to prevent pneumonia is with vaccines.
The problem with the pneumonia vaccine is not one of efficacy. A Cochrane meta-analysis of 18 randomized trials found that the pneumonia vaccine led to a substantial reduction in infections. The problem is which pneumonia vaccine to give people.
And if you wont listen to me, at least listen to Oprah.
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Problems That Could Happen After Getting Any Injected Vaccine
- People sometimes faint after a medical procedure, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your doctor if you or your child:
- Feel dizzy
- Have vision changes
- Have ringing in the ears
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What Are The Side Effects Of The Pneumonia Vaccines
Reactions to the pneumonia vaccine can occur, such as cold-like symptoms, but it is important to realize that those are adverse reactions to the vaccine and not pneumonia itself. Talk to your doctor if you have allergies to any ingredients in vaccines. Below are common adverse reactions to the pneumonia vaccines:
Mild side effects reported with Prevnar 13 can include:2
- Reactions where the shot was given
- Redness
Mild side effects reported with Pneumovax23 can include:2
- Reactions where the shot was given
- Redness
How Long Does The Pneumonia Vaccine Last
For most adults, one dose of the pneumonia vaccine should last a lifetime. In other words, you wont usually need to get another dose. This makes it different to the flu vaccine, which is given every year.
For some people, boosters of the pneumonia vaccine will be needed. This will be the case for people who have underlying health conditions that make them high-risk for pneumonia and related conditions. Your doctor will let you know if you need another vaccine.
If youre somebody who needs top-ups of the pneumonia vaccine, youll be able to receive them for free on the NHS.
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How The Pneumococcal Vaccine Works
Both types of pneumococcal vaccine encourage your body to produce antibodies against pneumococcal bacteria.
Antibodies are proteins produced by the body to neutralise or destroy disease-carrying organisms and toxins.
They protect you from becoming ill if you’re infected with the bacteria.
More than 90 different strains of the pneumococcal bacterium have been identified, although most of these strains do not cause serious infections.
The childhood vaccine protects against 13 strains of the pneumococcal bacterium, while the adult vaccine protects against 23 strains.
Types Of Pneumonia Vaccine
The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine also known as Prevenar 13 offers protection against 13 strains of pneumococcal bacteria. This type is given to young children as part of their routine NHS vaccinations. Its also available for adults under 65 through our vaccination service.
The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine also known as Pneumovax 23 offers protection against 23 strains of pneumococcal bacteria. This type is given to adults over 65 and anyone with a very high risk of pneumonia.
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The I Newsletter Cut Through The Noise
How long do I need to wait to have my booster jab after having Covid-19?
If you have recently recovered from Covid-19, you will still need to get the booster.
However, official government guidance states you should wait to get the booster until at least four weeks has passed since your Covid-19 infection.
If you currently have Covid-19, you should continue to isolate as advised by the NHS.
Why do I need to wait to get my booster after testing positive for Covid-19?
A spokesperson from the UK Health Security Agency told The Yorkshire Post that there are a few reasons people who have had Covid-19 should wait for at least four weeks before getting the jab.
When someone catches COVID-19, they are at risk of becoming increasingly unwell for up to two weeks after infection, they explained.
It is important these symptoms due to COVID-19 infection are not confused with having been caused by the vaccine, which is why vaccination is delayed post-infection.
Furthermore, the precautionary 28-day interval between Covid-19 and the booster vaccine is also designed to ensure people are no longer likely to be acutely unwell from their infection when they take up the jab.
Antibody levels increase following COVID-19 infection, so the four-week wait for the booster should not put individuals at any greater risk from the virus, they added.
Everything You Need To Know About The Pneumonia Vaccine
During the winter months, many people think that they have a nasty cold or flu, but it turns out to be pneumonia an illness that can be life threatening in certain people. A vaccine can help lower your chance of contracting pneumonia. While the pneumonia vaccine does not prevent all cases of pneumonia, it reduces the severity of the disease.
That is especially important for older adults and if you have certain medical conditions that put you at greater risk for complications.
Now is the time to talk to your doctor about your risks and if you need a vaccine to protect you against pneumonia.
Niharika Juwarkar, MD, Internal Medicine with Firelands Physician Group, answers your most frequently asked questions about pneumonia and the risks.
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a respiratory lung infection that is often mistaken for the flu. Your lungs become filled with fluid or pus that results in inflammation. Symptoms are very similar to the flu, but pneumonia can last for weeks and result in very serious complications.
While pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, most cases are due to a specific bacteria called streptococcus pneumoniae, more commonly known as pneumococcal pneumonia. This form can be treated with antibiotics. Your doctor can test to see what form of pneumonia you have. Treatment depends on the type of pneumonia you have and the severity of your symptoms. But, the best defense is vaccination.
Who is most at risk for pneumonia?
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Signs Of Pneumonia Vaccine Side Effects
As with any vaccination, there are potential side effects of the pneumonia vaccination. Common side effects include:
Injection site soreness
As with most shots and vaccinations, you may experience pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site .
Less than 1% of people who receive a pneumonia vaccine develop a fever. If your temperature is above 100.4 F , you have a fever.
Irritability
Irritability is a feeling of agitation. When you’re feeling irritable, you’re more likely to become frustrated or upset. In children, this may present as fussiness.
Why The Recommendations Changed
Both the CDC and AAP say safety data and a need to catch up children and teens on missed vaccinations played a role.
“The AAP supports giving other childhood and adolescent immunizations at the same time as COVID-19 vaccines, particularly for children and teens who are behind on their immunizations, the AAPs statement reads. Between the substantial data collected on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, and the extensive experience with non-COVID-19 vaccines which shows the immune response and side effects are generally similar when vaccines are given together as when they are administered alone, the benefits of co-administration and timely catch up on vaccinations outweigh any theoretical risk.
Woodworth also said that updated co-administration recommendations may facilitate catch up vaccination of adolescents. She cited data that showed the administration of many other vaccines has declined during the pandemic.
Specifically, vaccine orders from providers were down 11.7 million doses as of May 2, 2021 when compared with 2019. The gap was largest in vaccines usually given to teens, including:
- The Tdap vaccine
- HPV vaccine
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine
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A Week Before Thanksgiving And The Kids Are Not Fully Vaccinated What Tips Should I Keep In Mind When Traveling
According to the AAA, some 53.4 million people are expected to travel this Thanksgiving holiday, up 13% from 2020.
Medical professionals at Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital, Johns Hopkins Childrens Center and the American College of Emergency Physicians offer these holiday travel tips for families:
Keep COVID-19 safety measures going. A child who has only had the first vaccine dose should continue to take all the regular precautions of masking and distancing until fully vaccinated, which happens two weeks after the second dose. When indoors in public places, you and your children should wear face masks and physically distance. Also, keep hand sanitizer and wipes readily available. The CDC advises those who are not fully vaccinated to delay their travel plans. Many travelers should also consider getting tested before they leave for a trip and once they return.
Get the flu shot. Getting a flu shot in addition to a COVID-19 vaccine will give everyone a better chance to stay healthy and avoid hospitalization.
Prioritize safety as a host/houseguest. Some may feel more comfortable confirming the vaccination status of house guests before they arrive. Those who are sick or have symptoms should not host or attend a gathering.
Darcel Rockett and Alice Yin