Pneumonia vaccine

MinuteClinic providers can discuss your health history and concerns. They can help you decide if getting 1 or both pneumonia vaccines (Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23) is right for you and your family. Depending on which vaccines you get and your particular health conditions, you can reduce your risk of getting bacterial pneumonia by 50 to 99%.

1. You may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit prior to scheduling your appointment.

2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment:

   If you made your appointment online:
   Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.

   If you made your appointment in the clinic:
   Sign in at the electronic kiosk.

   If you made a MinuteClinic Virtual Care® appointment:
   To join your virtual visit, use the link in the email or text message we sent you to confirm your appointment. Please join 15 minutes before your scheduled visit time. You will need your date of birth and zip code to join the visit.

3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
5. At the end of your visit, you are provided with a visit summary, receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.

For PCV13:

• All adults 65 years or older
• All children younger than 5 years old
• People 6 years or older with certain risk factors

PCV13 is given to all children as part of their normal shot series. Sometimes, however, shots get missed. The number of doses of PCV13 a child should get will change based on when they get their first shot or whether they’ve missed certain shots. Talk to a MinuteClinic provider about your child’s specific needs to get up-to-date advice.

For PPSV23:

• All adults 65 years or older
• Any adult aged 19 to 64 who is a smoker or who has asthma
• Anyone aged 2 to 64 who has long-term health problems
• Anyone aged 2 to 64 who has a weakened immune system

There is more than one kind of germ that can cause a pneumonia infection. The most common type of pneumonia infection is due to a bacterium called Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumonias caused by these bacteria are often called “typical” pneumonias.

Another type of pneumonia, called atypical pneumonia, is caused by different bacteria. Atypical pneumonia is also called walking pneumonia. It’s usually less severe than typical pneumonia but can last for weeks or even months in some cases. Walking pneumonia often comes after a viral illness, like a cold or the flu, when a person’s immune system is already weak.

Many viruses can cause pneumonia, including the flu virus. Pneumonia caused by viruses is self-limited in most cases. That means it goes away on its own. This is a good thing because antibiotics do not work against viruses.

The final type of pneumonia is caused by a fungus. Pneumonias caused by fungi are rare. They usually only affect people who have immune systems that aren’t working well. There is no vaccine against pneumonia caused by fungus.

Pneumonia can affect anyone, but healthy people are not as likely to get it. Certain medical problems and behaviors can increase your risk for getting pneumonia. Risk factors for pneumonia include:

• Brain injury (dementia, stroke)
• Immune system problems (HIV, transplant)
• Lung disease (COPD, cystic fibrosis)
• Recent injury
• Recent surgery
• Serious illness (diabetes, heart problems)
• Smoking
• Surgery to your mouth, throat or neck

If you fall into one of the higher risk categories above, do not worry. There are lots of things you can do to reduce your risk of getting pneumonia. MinuteClinic providers can talk to you about your health concerns and give you tips on how to reduce your risk for pneumonia.

The most common symptom of pneumonia is trouble breathing. You may feel short of breath, particularly when you climb stairs or exert yourself. In addition to trouble breathing, pneumonia usually causes a cough. The cough may or may not cause you to spit up green or yellow mucus. Other symptoms of pneumonia include:

• Chills (shivering due to feeling cold)
• Confusion
• Extreme tiredness
• Fever
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of energy
• Sharp (stabbing) pain in the chest that is worse with breathing or coughing
• Sweating with clammy skin