Should you get the pneumonia vaccine? Know the major risks before you decide.

If you’ve ever had pneumonia, one thing is certain: You never want it again.

Imagine the worst flu you’ve ever had. Now multiply that by three.

I’ll never forget the time I developed pneumonia years ago, right after the birth of my first child. It was a classic case of being overworked and overwhelmed while getting scant, erratic sleep. I was a sitting duck for a nasty bug that came my way when my immune defenses were down.

And that’s the simple key to avoiding pneumonia: You have to take care of your immune system.

Now, your doctor might tell you that the best way to do that is to roll up your sleeve and get the pneumonia vaccine. And you might assume, based on my previous experience, that I’d get one in a heartbeat.

In fact, the exact opposite is true—I’ve opted out—no shot for me. And I’ll tell you why, based on four research-backed reasons. I’ll also reveal the simple steps to take to protect yourself from pneumonia—no drugs or needles required.

A stunning failure

The first reason you should consider skipping out on the pneumonia vaccine is a pretty basic one. The fact is, it doesn’t work very well.

But don’t take it from me—take it from the results of a meta-analysis involving 22 clinical trials and over 100,000 patients.

The researchers from the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine at Switzerland’s University of Bern concluded: “Pneumococcal vaccination does not appear to be effective in preventing pneumonia, even in populations for whom the vaccine is currently recommended.”

Ineffectiveness is certainly not something I’m looking for in a pneumonia vaccine!

In his Breathe Better Lung Health Protocol, Dr. Marc Micozzi offers three more reasons why he considers this vaccine a dud, beginning with a caution that’s of particular concern for older adults…

More shots, more expense…and a lack of evidence

For certain parts of the population, the pneumonia vaccine is particularly risky.

Dr. Micozzi explains, “The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommends that all adults over age 65 get the pneumonia vaccine. It also targets high-risk adults with compromised immune systems.

“For example, people with HIV/AIDs, or cancer, or anyone taking immunosuppressive drugs like corticosteroids. But this recommendation is controversial because the vaccines are more dangerous in these cases.”

In addition to that, Dr. Micozzi notes that one shot may not be enough.

He points out that CDC guidelines claim that only one pneumonia vaccination is needed—and that you’ll never require another one. But data shows that the vaccine fails to produce the proper antibodies in one in every four adults.

And Dr. Micozzi notes: “But you won’t know which one of these two groups you’ll fall into until it’s too late.”

And finally, he says, if one shot turns out to not be enough, a second one can turn out to be too complex.

For the past four years, the CDC has been recommending that older adults get two different types of pneumonia vaccines. But more, of course, isn’t necessarily better—especially when it comes to loading up your body with drugs.

Dr. Micozzi notes that infectious disease experts cite two downsides to this approach: increased costs and—more importantly—a lack of evidence.

In fact, he says, experts report that this recommendation is “…misguided, complex, and not ready for widespread adoption.”

Outright failures and risks

At the end of the day, Dr. Micozzi suggests talking with your primary care doctor and/or a specialist in infectious diseases about whether the vaccine is right for you.

However, he does want to make you aware that just like any drug, the pneumonia vaccine comes with a daunting list of potential side effects.

The most worrisome is an acute allergic reaction that prompts swelling bad enough to make breathing difficult. This is why Dr. Micozzi advises anyone who gets this shot to wait for a few minutes before leaving their doctor’s office where immediate medical help is available.

And he warns to keep an eye out for these other side effects:

  • Chills
  • Confusion
  • Dark urine
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • High fever
  • Nausea
  • Numbness or tingling in the feet
  • Vomiting
  • Weakness

To avoid these risks, Dr. Micozzi recommends shielding yourself against pneumonia in the first place. Here are three of his go-to tried and true approaches:

  • Avoid crowds and confined places with little airflow—especially during colder months, when people tend to get sick more often.
  • Support your immune system. Be sure to get plenty of quality sleep (7 to 9 hours per night), stay hydrated, cut out sugar, and take plenty of vitamin C and vitamin D each day.
  • Practice good personal hygiene, especially frequent handwashing. This is especially important after you’ve been socializing or just out and about, touching door handles, gas pumps, and one of bacteria’s favorite hiding places: the buttons of ATMs and debit/credit card readers.

Dr. Micozzi goes into greater length about immunity-building dietary choices, supplements, and lifestyle habits, as well as other pneumonia-prevention methods in his Breathe Better Lung Health Protocol.

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