Pneumonia Vaccine May Offer Heart and Stoke Protection

In addition to this year’s flu shot, seniors over the age of 65 are encouraged to get vaccinated against pneumonia, specifically with newer versions of the pneumonia vaccine; PCV13 and PPSV23.

Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD) is most common in the very young and the elderly.  A study conducted at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec found that vaccination against bacterial pneumonia can lower the risk of heart attacks.  The flu has also been shown to trigger heart disease during flu season.

A study from the Ottawa Hospital, led by Dr. Vicente Corrales-Medina, found that seniors, following hospitalization as a result of pneumonia, are at an increased risk of heart attack, stroke or dying of heart failure.  The risk is greatest in the year following the infection for patients over 65 but continues to be raised for as long as a decade.

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care recommends that the pneumococcal vaccine be given to adults over the age of 65, sooner if you have high-risk medical conditions such as heart, kidney or lung disease.  Talk with your doctor or call your local public health unit to learn more about the vaccine.

In the United States, nearly 90 per cent of deaths in 2013 as a result of pneumococcal disease were among adults and nearly 900,000 Americans contract bacterial pneumonia each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.    The CDC recommends both PCV13, followed by a dose of PPSV23 at least a year later for all adults over the age of 65.   If you have already received a PCV13 vaccine at a younger age, a second dose is not recommended.  To learn more about vaccination, side effects and risk factors, visit the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/features/adult-pneumococcal/.