Immunizations - Treating Your Condition: Respiratory Health
Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
Immunizations
In addition to using day-to-day treatments for controlling symptoms, people with COPD should have an annual flu shot and periodic immunizations for pneumococcus to guard against respiratory infections. The goal is to prevent the flu and the most common type of pneumonia, caused by the pneumococcus bacterium (Streptococcus pneumoniae). These infections can increase your respiratory symptoms, triggering acute exacerbations of COPD.
The pneumococcal vaccine is often called the pneumonia vaccine, but it helps to prevent pneumonia only from pneumococcus. It does not prevent pneumonia from viruses or from other types of bacteria.
Fast fact: ImmunizationEveryone with chronic bronchitis or emphysema needs a flu shot every year and a pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine every five to six years. |
| Last updated: | May 23, 2007 |
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Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
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