Delaware County, Indiana

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Delaware County Health Department

Telephone 765-747-7814, ext. 386

Fax 765-747-7747, Attn.:  Ann

100 West Main Street

Muncie, IN 47305

May 5, 2009

The Delaware County Health Department will hold a drive-through pneumonia vaccine clinic on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Delaware County Fair Ground office.  The vaccine will be given to persons 55 years old and older and person age 18 years or older who have a chronic illness.  Cost of the vaccine will be $40.00 and Medicare will not be accepted.  People with Medicare should contact their physician for pneumococcal vaccine administration.

Pneumococcal disease is a serious disease that kills more people in the United States each year than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined.  Getting the disease is much more likely to cause serious problems than getting the vaccine.

Drugs such as penicillin were once effective in treating these infections; but the disease has become more resistant to these drugs, making treatment more difficult.  This makes prevention of the disease through vaccination even more important.

This vaccine protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria.  Most healthy adults who get the vaccine develop protection to most or all of these types within 2 to 3 weeks of getting the shot. 

Usually one dose of this vaccine is all that is needed.  Pneumonia vaccine is recommended for all persons over age 65.  All persons 65 years old or older who have not received the vaccine within 5 years (and were less than 65 years of age at the time of vaccination) should receive another dose of vaccine.  Pregnant women need to contact their physician for advice about the vaccine and for administration if recommended.

Because there is insufficient data about the safety of pneumonia vaccine when administered three or more times, revaccination following a second dose is not routinely recommended.