Pneumonia Update

Immunization Program

The CDC is advising healthcare professionals that, during the current outbreak of novel influenza A (H1N1), all people who have existing indications for PPSV should be vaccinated according to current ACIP recommendations. This is important because people with existing indications are not only at increased risk for pneumococcal disease, but are also at increased risk for serious complications from influenza.

 The new CDC recommendations are that anyone aged 19 years or older should have the pneumonia vaccine if they are smokers or have asthma. The VNA complies with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination for the following:

· Smokers aged 19 or over New for 2009

· Individuals aged 19 and over with asthma (regardless of the severity) New for 2009

· All individuals aged 65 and over that has not yet been vaccinated with PPV23.

· Anyone aged 19 through 64 with:

- sickle cell disease

- heart disease

- lung disease

- diabetes

- alcoholism

- cirrhosis

- leaks of cerebrospinal fluid or cochlear implant

- Hodgkin’s disease

- lymphoma or leukemia

- kidney failure

- multiple myeloma

- nephrotic syndrome

- HIV infection or AIDS

- damaged spleen, or no spleen

- organ transplant

- long-term steroids use

- certain cancer drugs and/or radiation therapy

 The following people are eligible to receive a second dose, one time only, if it has been at least five years from previous vaccination, AND they:

· Are age 65 or older and the first dose was obtained more than five years ago.

· Have functional or anatomic asplenia.

· Have a hematological malignancy, including leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, other lymphomas, multiple myeloma.

· Have a generalized malignancy

. Suffer from chronic renal failure.

· Suffer from nephrotic syndrome.

· Have had an organ transplantation.

· Have an immunosuppressive condition, including HIV, systemic chemotherapy, long term use of corticosteroids.

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