This article was also published by Positively Filipino, on November 29, 2016. Here's the link to Positively Filipino.
Not too long ago, I had a severe
reaction to pneumonia or pneumococcal vaccine and had to be rushed to Urgent
Care.
Before I launch into my story, let
me explain that pneumococcal vaccine is given to prevent pneumococcal disease,
an infection caused by bacteria. The vaccine may not provide protection from disease
in every person. In fact, the John Hopkins Medicine site states that “It should
be noted that vaccination does NOT reduce pneumonia. A meta-analysis shows no
decrease in pneumonia incidence as a result of vaccination, however it has been
shown to be about 60-70% effective in preventing invasive disease (meningitis,
bacteremia).” The John Hopkins Medicine site also says, “By CDC guidelines,
once vaccinated, you will likely never need a revaccination. However, this is
still a controversial area.”
