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Vaccine can prevent deadly flu complications

One of the most common and most dangerous complications of the flu is pneumonia. Pneumococcal pneumonia is a bacterial infection in the lungs that primarily affects children under the age of 2 and adults over 65. Pneumococcal pneumonia hospitalizes around 175,000 people and kills an estimated 40,000 people in the United States every year.

You should receive the pneumococcal vaccine if you:

- Are over 65 years old.

- Have a chronic illness such as: asthma, heart or lung disease, sickle cell disease, or diabetes.

- Have a compromised immune system due to illness or chemotherapy.

- Reside in a long-term care facility.

Pneumococcal vaccine is available for children and adults, and most adults only need to receive the vaccine once. Pneumococcal vaccine is covered by Medicare.

Please contact your private physician or your local health department to learn how you can receive this important vaccination.

Due to the shortage of influenza vaccine this year, it is particularly important for individuals to protect themselves and others from the flu and its complications. There are several ways to do this:

- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, keep your distance from others.

- Stay home when you are sick and keep your children home from school if they are sick.

- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or a sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and discard used tissues immediately.

- Clean your hands; wash your hands regularly with warm, soapy water, or use alcohol-based hand cleaner.

- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

- If you are at high risk of complications from the flu, get the pneumococcal vaccine.