Respiratory infections are rampant in our Covid world, so it is more important now than ever to have your vaccination status up to date. Speak with your family pharmacist and physician to see what vaccine is required for your specific needs, be it age-related infection concerns, or travel preparations. One of the latest vaccines in our arsenal is the conjugate vaccine called Prevnar 20, which protects against pneumococcal pneumonia.
Pneumonia can be caused by many different organisms but pneumococcus (“Streptococcus pnbeumoniae”) is the most common cause of this lung infection. Pneumonia can be life-threatening, but that is not the only danger; the bacteria can spread to other parts of the body in “invasive” cases, affecting the brain and spinal cord (“meningitis”), the blood (“bacteremia”), as well as the sinus and the ear. It could affect people of all ages, but those under 5yo and 65yo or older tend to be at the highest risk and thus are recommended to get vaccinated; special populations between those ages, such as those with existing heart, liver, lung disease or diabetes, may require protection as well.
In BC, we have access to a self-pay vaccine called Prevnar 20 (“P20”, which replaced Prevnar 13), as well as a government-funded one called Pneumovax 23 (“P23”). The important difference between the two is that Pneumovax 23 is a “polysaccharide” vaccine consisting of the sugar part of the bacteria, whereas Prevnar 20 is a “conjugate” vaccine which contains the sugar attached to a carrier protein. The conjugate vaccine, Prevnar 20, will not only elicit a stronger immune response, but also a longer-lasting one. The effects of P23 generally lasts only 5-6 years, and thus requires a booster every 5 years. If you have received the government vaccine, you should get P20 one year later. If you had the older Prevnar 13 followed by P23, then you do not need the new P20. The protection from P20 should last a life-time, but you do need to get a booster of P23 every 5 years. An integrative pharmacist at Pharmasave Steveston Village or Cloverdale Pharmasave can help you minimize and manage the typically mild side-effects associated with vaccinations, as well as help you integrate adjuncts such as appropriate supplements, diet, and sleep to maximize your immunity throughout the year. Be sure to discuss the specifics of your case with your trusted healthcare provider.
Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother integrative pharmacist team at their unique, family-operated Pharmasave stores in Cloverdale and Steveston Village, B.C. They specialize in integrative remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. Everything mentioned in their article is available In-Store.
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