9 Things You Didn't Know About Pneumonia and Its Vaccine

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infectious disease caused by bacteria or a virus. The prevalence and severity of the disease are higher among people with risk factors. For instance, the incidence of pneumonia among people over the age of 65 is 14 times higher than among young and healthy individuals. Additional risk factors for contracting pneumonia include diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, chronic liver disease, autoimmune diseases, immunosuppression, and spleen removal. Symptoms include high fever, cough, and general malaise. The severity of the disease varies, ranging from a mild condition that can be recovered from at home to a severe illness requiring hospitalization, with complications and mortality risks.

Here are Nine Things You Didn't Know About Pneumonia

1. It is a leading cause of illness and mortality among adults and people with various underlying conditions in the Western world. Among the elderly, pneumonia increases mortality by about 10%. According to data from the Ministry of Health, pneumonia accounts for approximately 2.2% of all deaths in the country.

3. The disease is transmitted through the air by cough particles containing the bacteria or viruses. Risk factors that increase the likelihood of contracting the disease include flu, smoking, and alcoholism.

4. A significant portion of patients infected with pneumonia will require hospitalization.

5. The most common cause of pneumonia worldwide and in Israel is the pneumococcal bacterium. However, it is not just one type but around 90 different types of the bacterium, so there isn't one vaccine effective against all. When we are vaccinated against one type of bacterium, we are not protected against other types.

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6. Various studies show that people who have the flu tend to develop complications from pneumonia caused by the pneumococcal bacterium, and that vaccination against the flu also reduces the incidence of pneumonia. Thus, with one vaccine, we "gain" prevention of both flu and pneumonia as a complication of the flu.

7. There are two vaccines to prevent pneumonia caused by the pneumococcal bacterium. One is an old vaccine called "Pneumovax," recommended for people with underlying conditions and those aged 65 and over. The vaccine is active against 23 different types of the bacterium and is effective in preventing invasive disease, where the bacterium enters the bloodstream, and in preventing meningitis. Its effectiveness in preventing non-invasive pneumonia is limited.

8. Recently, a new vaccine called "Prevnar 13" has been added to the range of pneumonia vaccines. This vaccine has been administered for several years to all newborns in Israel to prevent meningitis in infants. Recently, its effectiveness has also been proven in preventing pneumonia among adults, including the elderly. Prevnar 13 is effective against the 13 most common types of the bacterium. The vaccine allows the body to produce a stronger immune response than that produced by the Pneumovax vaccine, making it more effective in preventing pneumonia, especially since it is effective in preventing non-invasive pneumonia.

9. Following recent studies, the Ministry of Health decided to allow at-risk individuals, people over the age of 65, and those suffering from chronic diseases (such as diabetes, metabolic diseases, heart diseases, lung diseases, liver cirrhosis, and alcoholism) to receive the Prevnar 13 vaccine funded by the state.

In summary, to achieve maximum protection, it is advisable to receive three vaccines each year: the flu vaccine, one dose of Prevnar 13 (sufficient for a lifetime), and multiple doses of Pneumovax (depending on age). It is recommended to get vaccinated now before winter arrives.

Dr. Yasmine Maoz is the head of the Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention Unit at Wolfson Medical Center

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