December 3 , 2004

Helping to prevent flu complications

With the recent flu shot shortage, the MGH and the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization will be offering the pneumococcal vaccine to help prevent flu complications for certain MGH patients. Posters and flyers about the pneumococcal vaccine were distributed throughout the hospital this week to help educate patients about pneumococcal pneumonia and whether they should ask their health care providers about the vaccination program.

Pneumococcal pneumonia can be a serious illness that can lead to severe infections of the lungs, blood and brain. The pneumococcal germ can be spread by coming in contact with someone who is ill with pneumococcal pneumonia or who carries the germ in his or her throat. Anyone can get the illness, but some people are at greater risk, including people 65 years of age and older, very young children, patients with chronic medical conditions or those who have special health problems such as cancer and HIV infection.

The pneumococcal vaccine protects patients against 23 types of the germ. Most healthy adults are protected from these germs within two to three weeks after getting the vaccine. MGH clinicians will be offering the vaccine to adults 65 and older and to those between 2 and 64 years of age who have chronic medical problems. "This vaccine provides further protection for our patients against an important and dangerous infection, and I strongly support its use," says Cy Hopkins, MD, associate chief of the MGH Infection Control Unit.