Each year, more than 250,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized with pneumonia, and about 20% of those people die.
Anyone can get pneumonia, but some people are at increased risk of pneumonia complications, such as the elderly, people who smoke, those with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease and young children.
The pneumococcal vaccination helps prevent pneumococcal disease, which is an illness caused by Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria. There are two kinds of pneumococcal vaccines available in the U.S.
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or PCV13
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine or PPSV23
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine pneumococcal conjugate vaccination for
- All babies and children younger than 2 years old
- People 2 years or older with certain medical conditions
CDC recommends routine pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination for:
- All adults 65 years or older
- People 2 through 64 years old with certain medical conditions
- Adults 19 through 64 years old who smoke cigarettes
Protect yourself by speaking with your provider about the pneumococcal vaccine.
CCHA is here to help!
CCHA care coordinators can help you connect with a provider, assess your needs and gain access to resources to help you manage your family’s health.
Call CCHA Member Support Services
303-256-1717 | 719-598-1540 | 1-855-627-4685 (TTY 711)
Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm