Pneumococcal Vaccination

Persons with diabetes are at increased risk of hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality associated with pneumonia. Persons with diabetes are about three times more likely to die with pneumonia.

• Unlike the influenza vaccine, the pneumococcal vaccine is not an annual vaccine. The recommendation for pneumococcal is that a person with diabetes receives the vaccine at least once in their lifetime.
• Persons with diabetes over age 65 are at highest risk for dying from pneumonia and may have to receive a booster if hospitalized and had been given the vaccine much earlier.
• In Virginia, in 2005, 48.6 percent of adults with diabetes reported ever receiving a pnuemococcal vaccine.

Healthy People 2010 Objective:
(14-29) Increase the proportion of adults with diabetes who are ever vaccinated against pneumococcal disease to 60 percent.

American Diabetes Association Recommendation:
The ADA recommends checking with your doctor.

Source: VA BRFSS, 1997-2005
Data Note: Percents are weighted towards annual population estimates and age-adjusted. Data for this measure were collected ever other year until 2001.

---

---