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The short answer from an infectious disease specialist
A: The pneumonia shot can help protect you against getting really sick with other types of viruses, like influenza, but not from the coronavirus, which causes pneumonia all by itself.
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Often times, we see that influenza can lead to secondary infections with other types of bacteria that the pneumonia shot prevents. But because coronavirus is bad enough on its own, the pneumonia shot doesn’t offer protection against it.
Still, it’s important for some people to get the pneumonia shot, regardless of COVID-19. The germs that cause pneumonia are still out there, they aren’t waiting on the sidelines for coronavirus to finish its job.
The pneumonia shot is recommended for the following groups:
If you fall into one of these categories, talk to your doctor about getting the pneumonia shot to help protect you from getting really sick from other viruses. But when it comes down to it, the pneumonia shot doesn’t offer protection specifically against coronavirus.
– Pediatric infectious disease specialist Frank Esper, MD.
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