3/1/2020 One of the main reasons so many die from the flu and coronavirus is because of pneumonia.

umonia. Since we have pneumonia vaccines, why is it not standard pr…

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Posted by u/ArcaneAscent11 2 days ago

One of the main reasons so many die from the flu

and coronavirus is because of pneumonia. Since we
have pneumonia vaccines, why is it not standard
procedure to have the public get vaccinated for
pneumonia?
Medicine

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Rannasha Computational Plasma Physics 561 points · 2 days ago

Pneumonia isn't a single illness, it's an umbrella term for an
infection of the lungs. Pneumonia can be caused by a wide
variety of infectious agents: bacteria, viruses, fungi.

Consequently, there is no single "pneumonia vaccine". Vaccines

exist that help against some of the causes of pneumonia (for
example the flu vaccine), but not all.

Depensity 123 points · 2 days ago

What some doctors refer to as a "pneumonia vaccine" (when
they're in too much of a rush to give the full explanation) is a
vaccine against one particular bacteria called Streptococcus
pneumoniae which is a major cause of serious pneumonia
(less so now that we're vaccinating aggressively against it).
Continue this thread 

ArcaneAscent11  167 points · 2 days ago

This is what I needed to understand. Thank you.
Continue this thread 

Kaizokugari 4 points · 1 day ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/fau40h/one_of_the_main_reasons_so_many_die_from_the_flu/ 1/4
3/1/2020 One of the main reasons so many die from the flu and coronavirus is because of pneumonia. Since we have pneumonia vaccines, why is it not standard pr…

Hijacking your comment to ask: what defines which virus

Search
causes pneumonia and which virus stops e.g. at the nasal
cavities or the larynx? Why do some strains of Coronavirus
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lower respiratory system since the entry method
is the same for all kinds of coronaviruses? What makes the
SARS inducing strains different?
Continue this thread 

Mmedical 54 points · 2 days ago

Pneumonia is a general term for consolidation (essentially
liquid) forming in the lungs due to infection or insult (like
aspirating vomit). This is an inflammatory response. It prevents
oxygen from diffusing into the blood stream.

The vaccination against a specific bacteria, streptococcus

pneumoniae. It can prevent some cases of pneumonia,
meningitis, and sepsis.

COVID19 is a virus and has nothing to do with streptococcus

pneumoniae.

anon517 5 points · 1 day ago

Why does the body continue producing liquid if the
overproduction can kill the person anyways in the attempt to
defend against oxygen diffusion?
Continue this thread 

chocoholic49 18 points · 2 days ago

If anyone has a compromised or weakened immune system
due to diabetes, heart disease, COPD, etc. or are over 65, they
should get the pneumonia vaccine. While it won't protect from
the flu or other viral respiratory infections, it will help prevent
secondary bacterial infections in the lungs or reduce the
severity of the infection from most types of pneumococcal
bacteria. For even generally healthy adults there are no
downsides to the vaccine and it may be beneficial in the long
run since it's a lifetime vaccine (with booster shots).

This has been a standard recommended practice for years but

like most adult vaccines it's voluntary.

DaddyCatALSO 3 points · 2 days ago

Which is the confusing point. For years it was just original
pneuomvax. Now there's Prevnar, and an improved form of
pneumovax seems to be avialable
Continue this thread 
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3/1/2020 One of the main reasons so many die from the flu and coronavirus is because of pneumonia. Since we have pneumonia vaccines, why is it not standard pr…

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   OMedicine 6 points · 2 days ago

299Throwawayunknown55 CLOSE

You can have viral, bacterial, chemical, metallic and at least a

couple other types of pneumonia, one of which you only get
from whale tusks if you're a scrimshaw artist. The vaccine only
protects against one specific type of virus.

Megalocerus 2 points · 1 day ago

I thought it was 13 types for the basic, and another 23 for
the other, with all being types of bacteria?

Lutibell 3 points · 2 days ago

Most older people in the US get the pneumonia vaccine at age
65. In conjunction with the yearly flu vaccine, it provides pretty
good coverage. The real danger of Covid 19 is that it appears in
the CT scans, both lungs and all chambers are affected. Most of
your typical flu viruses normally attack 1 to 2 lobes.

surloc_dalnor 2 points · 1 day ago

It might actually be a good idea, while it won't protect you from
pneumonia from the flu or novel coronavirus. It will help with
opportunistic infection that you might get as a result of the flu
or novel coronavirus. My understanding is a lot of
Streptococcus pneumoniae based pneumonia infections start
with a cold or flu.

ashortsagittarius 2 points · 11 hours ago

In the states, the pneumonia vaccine is already something
that’s being pushed. It’s in the normal vaccine schedule for
babes, and then at 65 and older seen as a higher risk, so people
are encouraged to get the vaccine with their flu vaccine. It’s one
of the few vaccines universally covered or on a lower tier with
Medicare plans. So in that sense, it is being encouraged to
prevent the aftermath of these bad illnesses for people at risk.

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