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What Do I Need to Know About the Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine?

Author/s: 
Jerard Z. Kneifati-Hayek, Michael A. Incze

What Is the Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine?
The pneumococcal vaccine protects against infections from a type of bacteria called pneumococcus. Pneumococcus is a common cause of pneumonia (a lung infection), as well as other serious infections. The vaccine prepares your immune system to recognize and fight pneumococcal bacteria. The vaccine is usually given through an injection into the arm. Some versions can also be inhaled. The vaccines do not contain living or dead bacteria. The pneumococcal vaccine does not protect you from other lung infections like the flu (influenza), COVID-19, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), or other kinds of bacteria that cause pneumonia. It is still important to get your flu shot every year and other vaccines your doctor recommends, even if you already got the pneumococcal vaccine.

What Are Benefits of Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccines?
The vaccine substantially lowers your risk of hospitalization or dying from serious pneumococcal infection. Vaccination can reduce the risk of pneumonia-related deaths by almost half.

Why Is There a New Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine, and How Does It Differ From Prior Versions?
There are several types of pneumococcal bacteria that can cause pneumonia. Being vaccinated against one type of pneumococcus may not protect you from other types that could make you sick. Previous pneumococcal pneumonia vaccines like PPSV23 or PCV13 do not protect against all types of the pneumococcal bacteria that cause pneumonia. Newer vaccines were made in 2021 (PCV15 and PCV20) and 2024 (PCV21). These help to prevent infections from types of bacteria not covered by older versions.

What Are the Potential Side Effects?
Side effects are frequent but generally mild. The most common side effect is pain or redness at the site of injection. Less common side effects include fever, feeling tired, muscle ache, and headache. These are less severe than for other vaccines like flu and shingles. These effects can be treated with over-the-counter medications and generally go away within 24 to 48 hours. Life-threatening allergic reactions are extremely rare but possible. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe symptoms like difficulty breathing or progressive weakness after vaccination. The pneumonia vaccine cannot cause pneumonia or other bacterial illness.

Who Should Get a New Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine?
All adults 50 years and older who have not been vaccinated should receive one of the new vaccines: PCV21, PCV20, or a sequence of PCV15 followed by PPSV23. People younger than 50 years with certain health problems should also get the new vaccine. These health problems include diabetes; chronic conditions affecting the heart, lungs, liver, or kidneys; current tobacco use or heavy alcohol consumption; a weak immune system from certain health problems or medications; absence or prior removal of the spleen; and a history of spinal fluid leak or a cochlear (inner ear) implant.

Most adults who got either PPSV23 and/or PCV13 should still get a booster with one of the newer vaccines. The different pneumococcal vaccines protect against different types of bacteria. Some types of bacteria are more common in people depending on their age, health, and where they live. Talk to your doctor about which vaccine is best for you.

Keywords 
'Vaccination Infectious diseases Patient Information Pneumococcal Vaccines

What Is Prostate Cancer?

Author/s: 
Rebecca Voelker, MSJ

Prostate cancer is a common malignancy in older men. Prostate cancer typically affects older men (average age at diagnosis is 67 years) and is more common among Black men than White men.1 More than half of prostate cancer risk is due to genetic factors. Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer in men worldwide, with about 1.5 million cases diagnosed in 2021. In the US, 3.4 million men were living with prostate cancer in 2021.

Keywords 
Patient Information jama Patient Information Reproductive Health oncology prostate cancer

What Is Atrial Fibrillation?

Author/s: 
Rebecca Voelker

Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm that can cause stroke, heart failure, heart attack, chronic kidney disease, dementia, and death.

Atrial fibrillation is classified as paroxysmal (intermittent episodes lasting 7 days or less), persistent (lasting more than 7 days), long-standing persistent (lasting more than 1 year), or permanent.1

In the US, atrial fibrillation affects about 10.55 million people and is more common among men than women. Other risk factors include older age, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, high alcohol consumption, sleep apnea, an overactive thyroid gland, and possibly genetic factors.

Keywords 
atrial fibrillation Cardiology Patient Information jama Patient Information Rhythm Disorders

Strategies to Help Patients Afford Their Medicines in the US

Author/s: 
Kristin L Walter

Many patients in the US struggle to afford their prescription drugs. The inability to take medications as prescribed can lead to worse health outcomes.

Below are 7 strategies that patients can use to respond to high prescription drug costs in the US.

Keywords 
clinical pharmacy and pharmacology Patient Information jama Patient Information Health Care Economics, Insurance, Payment insurance

Eating Family Meals Together at Home

Author/s: 
Callie L Brown, Melissa C Kay, Lindsay A Thompson

Eating meals at home together as a family is important for both parents and children.

Eating dinner together at least 3 or 4 times per week has positive effects on child development and has been linked to children’s lower rates of overweight and obesity, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, depression, and eating disorders; higher self-esteem; and better academic performance. Eating family meals also has nutritional benefits. Families who eat dinner together eat more fruits and vegetables and fewer fried foods and sugary drinks. Family meals also help adults and children learn to like a variety of foods.

Keywords 
Media and Youth pediatrics Patient Information nutrition obesity family

What Is Perinatal Depression?

Author/s: 
Rebecca Voelker

Perinatal depression can occur during pregnancy and the first 12 months after childbirth.

Perinatal depression, also called postpartum depression, affects about 1 in 7 perinatal individuals. More than 75% of these individuals receive no treatment for perinatal depression. Onset of perinatal depression may occur prepregnancy or may develop over the course of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Untreated perinatal depression is associated with an increased risk of suicide and has additional negative effects on the perinatal individual, the fetus (preterm birth, low birth weight), and the child (impaired attachment, which may affect neurodevelopment) and may negatively affect relationships with partners and other family members.

Keywords 
Depressive Disorders Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Patient Information Reproductive Health Pregnancy Postpartum Depression Perinatal Depression

What Is Alpha-Gal Syndrome?

Author/s: 
Fatema Mollah, Mark A Zacharek, Mariel R Benjamin

Alpha-gal syndrome is a type of food allergy to mammalian (red) meat products.

Alpha-gal syndrome is associated with tick bites, most commonly from the Lone Star tick in the US, but also from different types of ticks in other areas of the world. During a bite, a tick injects a type of sugar molecule (galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose), also called alpha-gal, which leads to formation of an antibody. Because alpha-gal is present on cells of most mammals, including cows, pigs, lambs, and goats, when affected individuals eat these animal products, an allergic reaction may occur.

Keywords 
allergy and clinical immunology Patient Information diet red meat allergy Alpha-Gal Syndrome
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