Adults Age 50 and Older Can Help Lower Their Risk for Pneumonia

In advance of World Pneumonia Day on November 12, 2024, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) and the American Lung Association are working together to raise awareness among US adults age 50 years and older that getting a pneumococcal vaccine can help lower their risk for pneumonia and related complications.

Pneumococcal pneumonia is a leading bacterial cause of hospitalized pneumonia in the US. Older adults and people with lung disease and other chronic medical conditions or risk factors are at increased risk of serious disease or death from pneumococcal pneumonia. In October 2024, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lowered the initial age at which US adults are recommended to get vaccinated against pneumococcal disease from 65 to 50 years.

“The new recommendation gives more US adults the opportunity to help protect themselves from pneumococcal disease, which can lead to serious illnesses, including pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections,” said NFID Medical Director Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., MD. “Vaccination is our best defense against these serious diseases. We want everyone who is eligible to take advantage of this opportunity to help lower their risk.”

“Pneumococcal pneumonia is a potentially serious bacterial lung disease that can disrupt a person’s life for weeks, and when severe, it can result in hospitalization and can even be life threatening. Now is a great time to talk with a healthcare professional about pneumococcal vaccination because it is respiratory virus season and having influenza (flu) or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can increase a person’s chances of getting pneumococcal disease. Being protected with vaccination lowers the risk of disease,” said Albert Rizzo, MD, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association. “We are honored to partner with NFID to urge anyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.”

Despite the potential severity of pneumococcal disease, a recent NFID national survey of US adults found that among those at higher risk for pneumococcal disease, less than half (44%) plan to get vaccinated. Among those who do not plan to get vaccinated, the top reason cited was concern about vaccine side effects.

“We want patients to understand that potential side effects associated with pneumococcal vaccines are rare and are much less severe than the diseases they prevent,” said NFID President-Elect Monica M. Farley, MD. “If you are age 50 years or older or have other risk factors, please get vaccinated! And, if you do have concerns about vaccines, please talk with a trusted healthcare professional.”

Pneumococcal vaccines can be given at the same time as other recommended vaccines, including:

• annual flu vaccines and updated COVID-19 vaccines (recommended for everyone age 6 months and older) and
• RSV vaccines (recommended for pregnant women, adults age 75 years and older, and adults age 60-74 years who have certain risk factors like asthma and COPD)

For details on who should receive pneumococcal vaccines and when, view the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations.

About Pneumococcal Disease
Pneumococcal disease is caused by bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae) that can attack different parts of the body. When these bacteria invade the lungs, they can cause pneumonia; when they invade the bloodstream, they can cause sepsis; and when they invade the lining of the brain, they can cause meningitis. These serious conditions often require hospitalization and can lead to death.

About the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
Founded in 1973, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating and engaging the public, communities, and healthcare professionals about infectious diseases across the lifespan. NFID has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and has earned a Platinum transparency seal from Candid/GuideStar. For more information, visit www.nfid.org/pneumococcal.

About the American Lung Association
 The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on 4 strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.  To support the work of the American Lung Association, find a local event at Lung.org/events.