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Posted on:10/09/2009
Question
I am not interested in receiving the H1N1 vaccine, but since many H1N1 deaths seem to be related to pneummonia, do you reccommend getting the pneummonia vaccine as a preventive?
Answer
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No, the pneumonia vaccine (or pneumococcal vaccine) immunizes you against the pneumococcus, which is a common cause of severe pneumonia, but far less common than influenza. It would be much more beneficial to you, especially at your age, to have the H1N1 vaccine. Young adults seem to be at higher risk for severe disease with H1N1, and the vaccine is made exactly like our usual annual flu shots, so should be compltetly safe.
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Answered By:
John Boggs
, M.D.
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