Should we get Amtrak Joe as a spokesperson for the pneumonia vaccine?
So, Swine flu.
IANAD, but I’m pretty sure that one of the complications is pneumonia. Getting vaccinated against pneumonia. before coming down with any flu strain probably increases your chance of survival. The only doubt I have here is that the news reports on H1N1 don’t usually go into detail about the specific causes of pneumonia (which can be caused by both viruses and bacteria), and the pneumonia vaccine does not protect from every cause.
So why isn’t the fedgov pushing the vaccine? Well, it seems to be in perpetual short supply. The CDC recommend it for only the elderly, and sickly, even though in the very next line they say it’s very safe. Elsewhere, it’s also recommended for medical personnel too. One shot seems to last at least five years, (although they said ten when I got my shot, and others are saying that it’s good for forever).
Mine was about $10 at a walk-in clinic set up in a grocery store for the day. Probably well worth the trouble even if it’s not effective for the current pandemic.
