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Vaccinations Archive
Articles
Ask the doctor: Two pneumonia shots are better than one
Q. I'm 68, and I had the pneumonia vaccine a few years ago. Now I hear that I need to have two different ones. Do I really need to do this?
A. For many years, men who turned 65 were told that they needed a single pneumonia shot, called Pneumovax. Now the CDC suggests that older adults get an additional vaccination with a different vaccine, called Prevnar. The combination stimulates the immune system more effectively than either alone.
The two vaccines build immunity against different types of the bacterium, known as pneumococcus, that causes pneumonia. Pneumovax (PPSV23) protects against 23 common types of pneumococcus. Prevnar (PCV13) protects against 13 types.
Heart attack risk rises after a bout of pneumonia
If you're hospitalized with pneumonia,your heart attack risk may rise in the following month. Image: Thinkstock |
If you're over 65, be sure to follow the latest pneumonia vaccine guidelines.
Each year, about a million people in the United States end up in the hospital with pneumonia, a serious lung infection that can be caused by an array of different viruses, bacteria, and even fungi. New research suggests that older people hospitalized with pneumonia face four times their usual risk of a having a heart attack or stroke or dying of heart disease in the month following the illness.
Higher-dose flu vaccine is more protective in people over 65
A study published in the Aug. 14, 2014, New England Journal of Medicine indicates that a high-dose version of the flu vaccine is more effective than the standard dose in preventing the flu for people over 65. The vaccine manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur, had been required by the FDA to demonstrate that the high-dose version, which contains four times the dose of immune-stimulating antigens, actually works better than the standard dose.
About 32,000 people over 65 were randomly assigned to get either the standard flu vaccine or the high-dose version. All were asked to report any flulike illness they got over the next few months.
Time for your flu vaccine: Do you need a higher dose?
Images: Thinkstock To avoid a miserable case of the flu and the complications it can cause, get a flu shot before the start of the season, ideally in early fall. |
The pros and cons of the high-dose vaccine, and tips to protect yourself from infection this season.
Shingles vaccination pros and cons
Experts recommend that everyone 60 and older get the vaccine for shingles, a painful rash caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus. The vaccine is safe, but can be costly if not covered by insurance.
News briefs: Flu shot linked to lower risk of heart problems, say Harvard researchers
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If you haven't yet gotten your flu shot this winter, consider this: a study published in the October 23/30, 2013, issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association found that getting an influenza vaccination was associated with a lower risk for developing major heart problems. How much lower? About a third, and that effect lasted for up to a year, warding off conditions such as heart failure, heart attack, stroke, and even death. The biggest protective benefit was for people who had recently experienced heart problems such as a heart attack or unstable angina—a 55% reduction in major cardiac events compared with other patients. Researchers believe a flu shot may stop the virus from causing trouble in your arteries. "The virus might actually stir up inflammation and affect the cholesterol plaques in the artery, which then break open and lead to a heart attack," says study author and cardiologist Dr. Christopher Cannon, a Harvard Medical School professor. The study didn't absolutely prove that flu shots protect against heart attacks, and the research team hopes to do a larger prospective trial.
Lower your heart attack and stroke risk with a flu shot
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Peak flu season is looming, so get your vaccination soon.
Flu shot: Good insurance, not a guarantee
Not everyone will be protected by the flu shot, but it's still a good idea for men at risk of complications from influenza.
Soon it will be the season of the common cold, bringing stuffy heads, runny noses, fuzzy thinking, and fatigue. The flu, in contrast, is a more serious health issue for men, especially those with heart or lung disease or a condition
that weakens the body's immune defenses. For these individuals, a bad bout with influenza can end in hospitalization or worse.
Fall vaccination roundup
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A flu shot may not be enough; you may be ready for other vaccinations.
With autumn approaching, it's time to review your vaccinations and see if you need any updates. Here are the shots to consider:
Vaccinations: Myth vs. reality
Don't let misinformation prevent you from getting the protection you need.
Vaccinations are a ritual of childhood, but they aren't just for kids. Even older adults need to arm themselves against preventable diseases, particularly ones like influenza and pneumonia. However, many adults aren't following the government's recommended vaccination schedule. A CDC report released in January found that vaccination rates are dangerously low among adults ages 65 and over. Only 62% of seniors received the pneumococcal vaccination, just over 50% got their tetanus vaccine, and a mere 15% were vaccinated against shingles.
Recent Blog Articles
Have you exfoliated lately?
Wildfires: How to cope when smoke affects air quality and health
PTSD: How is treatment changing?
Virtual mental health care visits: Making them work for you
How healthy is sugar alcohol?
A bird flu primer: What to know and do
New urine test may help some men with elevated PSA avoid biopsy
Dupuytren's contracture of the hand
Why play? Early games build bonds and brain
Moving from couch to 5K
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