Pneumovax is the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, which protects against severe pneumonia infections caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. This bacterium often leads to pneumonia and meningitis in children, older adults, and people with chronic illnesses. The vaccine was developed by Michael Heidelberger (1888–1991) and first used on American servicemen in World War II.

For most people, the vaccine is administered by injection in a single dose, although certain people may need two doses. The vaccine is recommended for high-risk people age 2 or older, which includes people with heart disease, lung disease (excluding asthma), kidney disease, alcoholism, diabetes, cirrhosis, leaks of cerebrospinal fluid, and sickle-cell anemia. Also at risk are those age 65 or older, people who live in institutions where other people have chronic health problems, people with weakened immune systems, Alaskan natives, and some Native American populations.

The risks and side effects associated with the pneumococcal vaccine are usually minor. You might experience pain and redness at the site of the injection. And, like all medications, Pneumovax carries a small chance of an allergic reaction, a more serious reaction, or even death. If you are sick or possibly pregnant, you should let your doctor know before receiving the vaccine; he or she may opt to postpone the inoculation.

Even if you have had pneumonia or other invasive pneumococcal disease in the past, you are not immune to all types of pneumococcal infections, and you should still have the vaccine if it’s recommended. However, Pneumovax does not prevent all kinds of pneumonia.

ADDITIONAL FACTS

  1. Pneumovax does not protect against pneumococcal diseases in children under age 2. Another vaccine, called the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, is routinely given to children under 2 to protect against Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  2. Before vaccines that protect against pneumococcal disease existed in the United States, 200 deaths in children younger than age 5 used to occur annually as a result of these illnesses.
  3. There are more than 90 subtypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. The 10 most common subtypes cause 62 percent of invasive disease worldwide.
  4. Approximately 175,000 hospitalizations resulting from pneumococcal pneumonia occur annually in the United States, and 5 to 7 percent of those patients will die.