Both DH and I have had them without a problem. In fact DH got a second one about 7 years after the first one due to his health problems. Again no problem The strain of pneumonia you had might have not been covered under the shot you had. I would discuss it either with your Dr. or a specialist. There maybe something in it you are allergic to.

The pneumonia vaccine is only effective for a certain kind of pneumonia.
If you happen to get a bacterial infection other than the specific one the shot is for, you can get pneumonia.
There are many different bacterial infections but the shot is for what used to be the most common.
Sorry you have been so ill and sorry the doc didn't explain it better when he urged you to get the vaccine.

Just got one this week.

They are free with Medicare D.

Nope, I don't get flu shots either. I know too many people who have mysteriously gotten the flu right after getting the flu shot, even though all medical people say there's no way it causes it. Just seems like too much of a coincidence for me.

I'm sorry you got so sick. Pneumonia is awful!

Thistle, There are something like 75- 80 different types of pneumococcus - about 25 are covered in the current vaccination. You lowered your odds, sadly it didn't pay off for you.

I got one 4 yrs ago, DH 7 years ago, we've both been well. We get a flu shot every year too, since having back-to-back flu about 20 years ago, first him, then me.

Jenn, please don't take this personally, but we feel its the responsible thing to do. We could get flu and not be especially ill, but what about that person I might pass it to while being contagious. A good friend is head nurse at our Health Dept, and when she tells me the more people who get the vaccine in a community, the less severe an outbreak will be and everyone benefits...I trust her.

Thistle, it can take a long time to fully recover, please be patient and allow it time. When my Mom had pneumonia, her doctor told me 'Any energy she uses unnecessarily (it was summer, and she wanted to do yard work, return to her swimming at the Y) is energy directed away from healing...take it slow'

I don't take it personally, to each their own. I just have to go by my own experience, as does everyone else.

I have had 2 pneumonia shots. My first one was when I was 60 and then my doctor suggested another one a few years ago. She said that since I got my first one before age 65, I had to get another one to have longer immunity. I get a flu shot every year. Flu shots are not a live virus so you can't possibly get the flu from the shot.

Pneumonia shot, flu shot yearly AND I got the shingles vaccine. Luckily my insurance covered it, but I arranged for it before I knew that. My mother and then my younger sister suffered terribly from shingles last year.

Never had a flu shot or pneumonia shot! Never had the flu or pneumonia either!

Yes...and yes! Best decision I ever made...medical wise. I used to come down with pneumonia every winter. Thanks to the vaccine...I haven't had it in years.

Anne

I'm 61 and I have never taken either shot - knock on wood, I've never had pneumonia. I have had the flu, but only a couple of times when I was younger.

I've not gotten the vaccine but my doctor is really pressuring me to do so, I had my flu shot last week will get the pneumonia shot next week. When I was younger I may have scoffed about it as well but now, after 2 bouts of pneumonia over the years and a suppressed immune system I will err on the side of caution.

Never had either shot. I won't take something that "may" be the right one for the year.

Especially the flu vaccine. Way too much controversy over whether it is effective of not.

When you add in all the people who call or sorts of NON FLU illnesses the flu it becomes even more convoluted.

I am careful during flu season. I have healthy lungs and no issues. I am temporarily a bit immune deficient due to some meds I have had to take (done now) but again I am just more cautious.

I had it, I think maybe 4 years ago. I haven't had pneumonia since, so I guess that's a good thing :-) I have had pneumonia a couple of times in the past, several years ago, and it was absolutely no fun!

I have to laugh at the medical society, first they told us we only had to have the vaccine once in a lifetime, then every 10 years, now every 5.......

In the news. the UK is no longer using the pneumonia vaccine on those over 65 because after studies in over 22 countries....wait for it.....it doesn't work or save lives.

Flu vaccine is being shown to have the least benefit to those that they thought would be most helped by it. Seems that the antibodies just aren't forming well in people who are older or have compromised immune systems. Over all the stats say the flu vaccine is only 59% effective for anybody. But they are still saying get it anyway. Sorry but that's not good enough for me. You have to add a margin of error to stats of any kind. 59% could just as easily be 50%. Or it could be better at 69%. Even the latter is less than 2/3 and that figure is unlikely. Not worth the risk of what long term effects may show in the future for people getting these b vaccines over a lifetime.

I am generally not a conspiracy person but I really think these vaccines are becoming more and more a "follow the money" issue than a public health issue.

Thanks for all the input...My husband does not get a flu shot, says he does not want some kind of metal they put in the flu shot..maybe aluminum or mercury?? Not sure and he is not here to ask. I have alot of health issues so my dr. has insisted that I get a flu shot. I may have to rethink that one..but I will never get a pnuemonia shot again. Maybe I am paranoid, but I had never had pnuemonia before this shot. Thanks to all of you who helped me understand it takes awhile to recoop. I have been pushing myself to try and get my strength back, but to no avail! My dr. did not explain to me that it would take awhile even though I was out of the hospital. This is all new to me..I will take it easier than I have been. Thanks everyone.

I get the flu and the pnemonia shot, but I have parkinsons, copd, diabetes and have had a stroke. If I don't get the pnemonia shot, I get pnemonia, and end up in the hospital. As far as flu goes, most people who think they have the flu, it isn't. I don't believe I've ever had the flu, maybe some lil virus going around, but thats it. Its just not worth risking my life, if i don't get the shots.

I've had flu and pneumonia vaccines. Just had this year's flu shot. Had the shingles vaccine a couple years ago. None of these *guarantee* you won't get anything. They do say you may have a less horrible experience if you do get sick. That's odds enough for me.

I never had pneumonia either...until three years ago while we were on Maui. I know I'm not as 'tough' as I used to be because it took me months to recover. I'd never fallen asleep while sitting up, reading, before! DH had bronchitis the same time -- same bacterial bug hit us both...wham!