Every year, between 5-20% of Americans become ill from influenza, also called the flu. They suffer from fatigue, chest congestion, body aches and fever. Most people with influenza recover within about 2 weeks, but in older people and those with health problems like lung disease, congestive heart failure or diabetes, influenza can trigger serious, even …
vaccine
Q: In May of 2014, I was in the hospital for inguinal hernia repair and was offered the Pneumovax® 23, which I had been wanting for some time but none of my doctors would approve it. I did not ask for the Pneumovax® 23 at this time; it was offered to me and I accepted. …
Q: I get a flu shot every year. Don’t I need a pneumonia shot, too? What many people call the “pneumonia shot” is actually a vaccine that protects you from being infected by a particular type of bacteria instead of against a particular disease. This bacteria has several names: pneumococcus, Streptococcus pneumonia and S. pneumoniae. …
A “flu shot” is different than other vaccines because the influenza virus is different. Vaccines against other viruses like measles, mumps, and chicken pox have stayed pretty much the same over the decades they have been in use. Influenza is different because it changes its shape almost continuously, and when it does, the vaccine against …
