# Question about the pneumococcal vaccine

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-pneumococcal-vaccine/668335>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 8, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-pneumococcal-vaccine/668335 "2013-09-08T16:34:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-pneumococcal-vaccine/668335/1 "2013-09-08T16:34:13Z")

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I’m a little confused about the pneumococcal vaccine recommendations. They say you should get it if you’re over 65, or you have other risk factors and are younger; I fall into the latter category. I’m asthmatic and have already gotten pneumonia once, so I’m keen to get the vaccine, maybe when I get my yearly flu shot or early next year when my position becomes benefitted.

I’m a bit confused about this part, which is similar on most of the websites I’ve seen:

> [@](#):
>
> A second dose is recommended for people 65 and older who got their first dose when they were younger than 65

So…I’m 36, and don’t have any of [the conditions](http://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/scheduler/pneumonia-vaccine_2.jsp) they suggest getting a second dose five years later for. Does this really mean I can get it now and not have to get it again for 29 more years??

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**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-pneumococcal-vaccine/668335/2 "2013-09-08T19:25:53Z")

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We may be talking about two different vaccines, but I got my first pneumonia vaccine in the late 70s or early 80s, and was told is was a lifetime shot. About fifteen years later the doctor told me the guidelines had changed and it was a ten year shot, so I had another. Then it went to every five years, so I’ve had a couple more.

If its the same shot I don’t know that you can count on not getting another one for 29 years.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-pneumococcal-vaccine/668335/3 "2013-09-08T21:24:35Z")

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From [UpToDate.com](http://UpToDate.com), a subscription medical website:

> [@](#):
>
> A single revaccination with PPSV23 is recommended in adults ≥65 years of age if they were vaccinated more than five years previously at a time when they were less than 65 years of age
> 
> For immunocompromised patients and individuals with functional or anatomic asplenia who are \<65 years of age, the ACIP recommends a single revaccination with PPSV23 ≥5 years after the first dose. However, since asplenic patients are at particularly high risk for overwhelming pneumococcal infection, some authorities recommend regular revaccination at five- to six-year intervals. (See “Prevention of sepsis in the asplenic patient”, section on ‘Revaccination in children and adults’.)
> 
> All adults aged ≥65 years should receive a dose of PPSV23 even if they were vaccinated when they were \<65 years of age; however, a minimum interval of five years between PPSV23 doses should be maintained.

So a healthy asthmatic would get one dose, then their 2nd one after 65.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-pneumococcal-vaccine/668335/4 "2013-09-09T01:44:38Z")

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> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#):
>
> From [UpToDate.com](http://UpToDate.com), a subscription medical website:
> 
> So a healthy asthmatic would get one dose, then their 2nd one after 65.

I see myself - asplenic - in your quote, so I guess that explains it!