Pneumococcal pneumonia is a serious complication of the flu. Each year, there are approximately 500,000 cases of this disease and roughly 40,000 deaths in the United States.

Getting a pneumococcal vaccine will protect you from pneumococcal pneumonia.   Unlike the flu shot, the pneumococcal vaccine is usually only taken once in a lifetime.   You should get a pneumococcal vaccine if you are 65 years old or older.

Please ask your healthcare provider if you should receive the pneumococcal vaccine if:

• You are younger than 65 and you have a serious long-term health problem such as heart disease, sickle cell    disease, alcoholism, leaks of cerebrospinal fluid, lung disease (not including asthma), diabetes, or liver cirrhosis.
  

• Your resistance to infection is lowered due to certain medical conditions. 

Please feel free to call an HCPHES health clinic nearest you to obtain the pneumococcal vaccine.