Logan County Department of Public Health urges Pneumonia prevention

[March 21, 2022] 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports in a recent analysis that pneumococcal disease, which includes pneumonia, is responsible for 4 million illness episodes, 445,000 hospitalizations and 22,000 deaths annually.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacteria that is commonly found in the nose and throat. The bacteria can sometimes cause severe illness in children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of middle ear infections, sepsis (blood infection) in children and pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals and the elderly. Symptoms generally include an abrupt onset of fever and shaking or chills. Other symptoms may include headache, cough, chest pain, disorientation, shortness of breath, weakness, and occasionally a stiff neck. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your medical provider.

The Logan County Department of Public Health (LCDPH) urges people at risk to get vaccinated. LCDPH is now offering PREVNAR 20, a new FDA approved vaccine which provides broad spectrum of protection against 20 serotypes responsible for pneumococcal disease and pneumonia. All major insurance is accepted.

The CDC recommends those who are age 65 and older who have not previously received a Prevnar-13 or Prevnar-15 vaccine, or whose previous vaccination history is unknown, be vaccinated with Prevnar-20. In addition, the CDC recommended adults who are 19-64 who have certain underlying health conditions or risk factors (alcoholism, chronic heart/liver/lung disease, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, immunodeficiency, iatrogenic immunosuppression, generalized malignancy, human immunodeficiency virus, Hodgkin disease, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, solid organ transplants, congenital or acquired asplenia, sickle cell disease or other hemoglobinopathies, CSF leak, or cochlear implant) receive the Prevnar-20 vaccine.

For more information, please contact Kara Davis with the Logan County Department of Public Health at 217-735-2317. The public health clinic hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 7:30am-3:45pm. For additional information regarding LCDPH services, you can log onto their website at WWW.LCDPH.ORG.

[Kara A. Davis, RN, BSN
Director of Nursing/Assistant Administrator/HealthWorks Case Manager
Logan County Department of Public Health]