Pneumonia Vaccine

Pneumonia vaccine is available by appointment only.  Pneumonia vaccine is $40.00.  Medicare Part B assignment is accepted.  A prescription is not necessary if you are age 65 or over and it is your first pneumonia vaccination.  All others require a physician's prescription. Please call (239) 252-8203 to schedule an appointment.

Pneumococcal vaccinations are encouraged and available for individuals 65 years of age and older and those younger than 65 years of age with diagnosed chronic medical conditions.  A prescription is necessary for individuals under the age of 65.  Please call (239) 252-8203 for Pneumococcal vaccinations.

GENERAL INFLUENZA AND PNEUMONIA INFORMATION 

Also, be sure to read our flu flyers and influenza brochure, which discuss the differences between a cold and the flu, as well as how to protect yourself from getting the flu.

INFLUENZA/FLU:

WHY?
Influenza viruses change often so each year the vaccine needs to be updated.  A new shot is required to keep the immunity current.

WHEN?
Protection develops 1 to 2 weeks after the shot and may last up to a year. The best time to get the vaccine is between October through December, but it is not too late in January or February.

WHO?

Beginning with the 2006 flu season the primary target groups recommended for annual vaccination are persons at increased risk for influenza-related complications:

·         Persons aged over 50 years

·         Healthy children aged 6-59 months and close contacts of healthy children aged 0-59 months (children in this age group are at substantially increased risk for influenza-related hospitalizations)

·         Children aged 6 months to 18 years who are on long-term aspirin therapy and therefore could develop Reye Syndrome after the flu

·         Adults and children over 6 months of age who have certain chronic medical conditions*

·         Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that house persons of any age who have long-term illnesses

·         Women who are pregnant during flu season

·         Persons of any age with certain chronic medical conditions*

·         Persons who live with or care for persons at high risk (e.g., health care workers and household contacts who have frequent contact with persons at high risk and who can transmit influenza to those persons at high risk)

 * Chronic medical conditions include asthma, chronic heart or lung conditions, metabolic diseases (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease or weakened immune system (including immune system problems caused by medicine or by infection with human immunodeficiency virus such as HIV/AIDS).

Persons Who Can Give the Flu to People Who Are At High Risk for Complications

Persons with the flu can give it to other people. To help prevent flu among people at high risk for complications, the following people should get a flu shot:

• doctors, nurses, and other employees in hospitals and doctors’ offices, including emergency response workers;

• employees of nursing homes and long-term care facilities who have contact with patients or residents;

• employees of assisted living and other residences for people in high-risk groups;

• people who provide home care to those in high-risk groups; and

• household members (including children) of people in high-risk or target groups.

• Employees of children's day-care facilities

Who Should Not Get a Flu Shot

The following groups should not get a flu shot before talking with their doctor:

• People who are have a severe allergy to hens’ eggs

• People who have had a severe reaction to a flu shot in the past

• People who previously developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in the 6 weeks after getting a flu shot

CAN I GET THE FLU ANYWAY?
Yes.  The flu viruses change often, but people who do get the flu despite being vaccinated often have a milder case than those who did not get the shot. Also, to many people “the flu” is any illness with fever and cold symptoms.  They may expect the influenza vaccine to prevent these illnesses.  But influenza is very effective only against illness caused by influenza viruses, and not against other causes of fever and colds.

CAN I GET THE FLU FROM THE SHOT?
No!  There is nothing in the vaccine that can cause disease.

PNEUMONIA

WHY?
Pneumonia is a serious disease that kills more people in the US each year than all other vaccine preventable diseases combined. Pneumococcal disease can lead to serious infections of the lungs, the blood, and the covering of the brain.  About 400,000 people who get pneumonia die per year. Drugs such as penicillin were once effective in treating these infections; but the disease has become more resistant to these drugs, making treatment of pneumococcal infections more difficult.

WHEN?
Pneumonia vaccine is available at anytime of the year. It is advisable to check with your physician before seeking a 5-10 yr booster if you had previously received a vaccination after age 65. 

WHO?

• Everyone over 65

• Anyone over 2 years of age with a serious long-term health problem.

• Anyone over 2 years of age with a weakened immune system.

• Anyone over 2 years of age taking any drug or treatment that lowers the body’s resistance to infection.

• Alaskan natives and certain Native American populations.

Cost?

• PNEUMONIA  $40.00*

*A sliding fee scale is available for those needing assistance.  

Questions?

• Naples         (239) 252-8203

• Immokalee   (239) 252-7300

MEDICARE PART B WILL COVER THE COST. YOU MUST BRING YOUR MEDICARE CARD WITH YOU.  

Provided by the Collier County Health Department