Eligibility for this vaccination is suddenly a timely question. A senior health editor reports on her real-time experience.
The cause of Diane Keaton’s death was undisclosed for several days until her family released a statement Wednesday—in part to thank the public for their outpouring of love, while also revealing that Keaton’s official cause of death was pneumonia.
Yesterday, just as that headline broke, I happened to be at an annual doctor’s appointment when my care team recommended I get the pneumococcal vaccine (commonly referred to as the pneumonia vaccine), along with my annual flu shot. According to the Cleveland Clinic, pneumococcal disease—which can include pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis—”is an infection caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae.” Clinic experts continue: “Getting vaccinated is the most effective way to reduce your risk of developing pneumococcal disease.”
Even though I’m only in my late 30s, my team recommended that I receive the vaccine because I’m a liver transplant recipient. This means I have been immunocompromised since the time of my transplant, when I was just two years old, because many solid organ transplant recipients have to take medications designed to prevent our bodies from rejecting the new organ. Even decades later as we continue those medications, they suppress the immune system. The Cleveland Clinic adds that certain types of medications, such as ones prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, can also cause someone to be immunosuppressed. Of course, there are a whole host of other medical conditions that can leave someone immuncompromised, including but not limited to cancer, diabetes, HIV, or autoimmune diseases.
Getting the pneumonia vaccine was just as quick as getting my flu shot was. (I’m waiting a few more weeks for my Covid booster, since I just received that one in June. For some patients, and I’m one of them, getting that booster more than once throughout the year can be advisable based on a doctor’s recommendation.)
The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in guidance last updated in October 2024, recommends a routine series of pneumococcal vaccines for children under the age of five. Additionally, infectious disease experts say adults 50 and older—and children and adults with certain health risks—are also encouraged to receive the vaccine. There are four types of pneumococcal vaccines in the U.S., says the CDC, with each protecting against certain strains of the pneumococcal bacteria. The health agency recommends talking to a vaccine provider if you have any questions.
The CDC also offers an online tool, called PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor, to provide clarity on which pneumococcal vaccines someone may need. By plugging in a patient’s age, previous vaccination history, and any underlying medication conditions, the tool provides a custom recommendation that can be further discussed with a licensed healthcare clinician.
According to the American Thoracic Society, the pneumococcal vaccines are “very effective”—around 60% to 80% effective for those with a high risk for pneumonia, who have weakened immune systems, or who are 65 and older. The CDC also says these vaccines can provide protection against pneumococcal infections, including “invasive disease.” Explains the agency: “Invasive disease means the bacteria invade parts of the body, such as blood, that are normally free from germs. Invasive disease is usually very serious and can sometimes result in death.”
Research in 2023 also found another reason to consider getting the pneumonia vaccine, as well as vaccines for Tdap/Td and shingles: these three vaccines were found to potentially reduce Alzheimer’s risk by as much as 30%. New research also just found the shingles vaccine may have vascular benefits that also help protect the heart over time.
As for my experience, the protection seems worth it, especially as the season for respiratory viruses is upon us. Less than 24 hours after my pneumonia shot, I feel well: no loss of appetite or marked fatigue, no swelling at the injection site. Just a slightly sore arm, thanks to two shots in that spot. Doctors told us October is prime time for many annual vaccines, so it can be a good time to squeeze in your visit.
Visit The Healthy Virus & Vaccine Guide for more information about vaccinations and to see other recommended wellness tips ahead of cold and flu season—and don’t forget to speak to your doctor about which vaccinations you may be eligible for.
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