

Pneumonia Can Be Prevented—Vaccines Can Help



Pneumonia isn't just a public health issue in developing countries though. For example, each year in the United States, about 1 million people are hospitalized with pneumonia, and about 50,000 people die from the disease. Most of the hospitalizations and deaths from pneumonia in the United States are in adults rather than in young children.

Many of these deaths—both globally and in the United States—are preventable through vaccination and appropriate treatment (like antibiotics and antivirals).

New Pneumococcal Recommendations for 2014

CDC now recommends 2 pneumococcal vaccines for adults 65 years or older.

  • You should receive a dose of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) first, followed by a dose of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), ideally 6 to 12 months later.

Lower Your Risk with Vaccines


  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
  • Influenza (flu)
  • Measles
  • Pertussis (whooping cough)
  • Pneumococcal
  • Varicella (chickenpox)


Protect Your Health with These Healthy Living Practices

Try to avoid close contact with sick people. While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. Following good hygiene practices can also help prevent respiratory infections. This includes washing your hands regularly, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue or into your elbow or sleeve. You can also reduce your risk of getting pneumonia by limiting exposure to cigarette smoke and treating and preventing conditions like diabetes.

Chest x-ray of patient with pneumonia

Chest x-ray of an adult patient with pneumonia.

What Is Pneumonia?


Who Is At Risk for Pneumonia?

Certain people are more likely to become ill with pneumonia:

  • Adults 65 years of age or older
  • Children younger than 5 years of age
  • People who smoke cigarettes


Causes and Types of Pneumonia


When someone develops pneumonia in the community (not in a hospital), it's called community-acquired pneumonia. Pneumonia developed during or following a stay in a healthcare facility (like hospitals, long-term care facilities, and dialysis centers) is called healthcare-associated pneumonia, which includes hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia.  The bacteria and viruses that most commonly cause pneumonia in the community are different from those in healthcare settings. It is important to know the specific cause of pneumonia to make the best decision about how to treat it.