When does it need refreshing?

Today, medicine knows vaccinations against three pneumonia pathogens, which can reduce the number of cases of pneumonia and thus save lives, especially among the highly endangered groups of people. These are the vaccination against pneumococci, which are among the already mentioned streptococci, the vaccination against the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae and the vaccination against influenza viruses. The vaccination schedule and the time after which the vaccination must be refreshed varies from pathogen to pathogen.

At present, it is recommended that persons at particular risk have their pneumococcal vaccination refreshed after six years. The Standing Commission on Vaccination at the Robert Koch Institute considers a renewed determination of the necessity before administering the booster vaccination to be useful. Against Haemophilus influenzae, children are vaccinated in a series of vaccinations in the 3rd and 5th month and in the second year of life in a 6-fold vaccination.

The protection lasts until the 5th year of life, after that no booster is necessary.Currently, when vulnerable adult patients are vaccinated against hemophilus influenzae, a booster is often given every five years. No valid data is currently available on the need for these booster vaccinations. Influenza viruses are known to change every year.

This means that the previous year’s flu vaccine is only partially effective or no longer effective at all in the following year. The flu vaccination must therefore be repeated every year. A vaccine is used which is adapted annually to the changed virus.

Side effects

Vaccinations are considered to be a very safe way to avoid diseases thanks to the complex approval procedures for vaccines. Today, damage to the health of the vaccinated person is almost impossible. Nevertheless, as with almost every medical procedure, side effects can occur, but in most cases they subside quickly and are absolutely harmless.

Typical symptoms after a vaccination include local swelling and reddening of the skin around the injection site. Symptoms such as fever, fatigue and malaise occur less frequently. However, these should not be a cause for concern, as they are merely a sign that the immune system is dealing with the vaccine.

Pain in the vaccinated extremity is as common as it is harmless. They preferably occur after muscular application of the vaccine, resemble muscle ache in their painful character and disappear by themselves after a few days. In rare cases, an infection of the vaccination site can occur if hygiene measures are not observed.

With this so-called syringe abscess, the surrounding tissue reddens considerably within the following days, causing overheating and swelling of the injection site. Pulsating pain is noticeable. A fever can accompany this.

A doctor should take over the treatment of the inflammation to avoid consequential damage. Serious consequences of the vaccination such as allergic reactions are extremely rare, suspected cases must be reported to the public health department. The fact that vaccinations trigger serious secondary diseases such as epilepsies, autoimmune diseases or autism is a concern that is repeatedly expressed in circles of vaccination critics.

In medical science these fears are taken quite seriously and are investigated accordingly. So far, however, no vaccination has been shown to increase the risk of developing chronic diseases such as those mentioned above. As with most vaccinations, pain can occur when vaccinating against pneumonia.

In most cases, this is limited to the vaccinated extremity. Local redness and swelling is not unusual and usually does not require further clarification. Pain that is similar in character to aching muscles is also frequent and harmless.

During the vaccination reaction, which is an expression of the immune system‘s confrontation with the vaccine, headache and aching limbs may occur, which are similar to the symptoms of a flu-like infection and usually disappear after a few days. However, if redness and swelling in the area of the vaccination site increase over the course of a few days, the affected skin areas become overheated and a dull, throbbing pain dominates, a doctor should be consulted again. This could be a syringe abscess that requires further clarification and treatment.