Does a pneumonia vaccination make the illness less severe

[at_239]

I understand that most of the people who are hospitalised mainly die as a result of pneumonia. Does this mean that anybody who has had a pneumonia vaccination will be protected from this aspect of the infection and therefore have a greater chance of survival?

[ppowb]

Then there is the cytokine storm to contend with, an overreaction of the immune system which causes serious inflammation.

[mkh9]

ppowb, yes exactly. peculiar, that the more serious infections are usually in those with lowered immunity. But then despite having lowered immunity, you get an overreaction of the immune system. Conversely, if you are young and have a good immune system generally you don't get as serious of an infection unless you have pre-existing conditions. However, that is not always the case. We don't know why various the virus doesn't "obey the rules". We will eventually understand it.
mkh9

[Paxiled]

My understanding, and this is from listening to interviews with those treating the virus, not anything I personally know, is that covid hijacks our immune systems as part of its incredibly wide ranging effects on our bodily systems.  The very young are the safest from it, but they don't yet have fully developed immune systems, which is why they get so many other diseases so easily yet not this one.  Not as much immune system yet to hijack, maybe.

[mkh9]

Paxiled,
That is part of the "attack" by the virus. It interferes with some white blood cells and also interferon. These are both used by the body against viruses. White blood cells also attack bacteria. The Corona virus also attacks certain cell types. There is a lot we don't know and other "stuff" we have learned. Young people can die of this as well. It is not know why.
mkh9

[Paxiled]

I know.  I get pretty angry when certain people who will go unnamed keep saying it is completely harmless for the young.  Some do get it bad.  And we still don't know if there are any long-term effects from it that might not show up for years.  

[Joybell]

NO!

[Ken_PA]

at_239, it might help in understanding to know that "pneumonia" is a catchall term that just means an infection in the lungs. You don't actually get vaccinated against pneumonia per se, you get vaccinated against particular bacteria that can cause pneumonia. So, as ANM says, you are not protected from getting pneumonia from coronavirus, or from any other virus.

However, a person with pneumonia from a virus can be made even worse when they get a bacterial infection in the lungs on top of the virus infection. That's called a secondary infection. So yes, you are *somewhat* better off - though not in the way that you were originally asking about.

Severely ill patients from coronavirus are getting antibiotics against secondary infections, and it turns out that azithromycin also has antiviral activity.

[doro722]

I believe pneumonia vaccinations are mostly for pneumonia caused by bacteria. Until now we did not take most viruses seriously. This probable will change now, with the dangerous Covid.

[Paxiled]

Uh, no.  Most of the vaccines we get are against viruses.  Measles anyone?  Smallpox?  Mumps?  Ebola?  etc. etc. etc.

[mkh9]

Yes mostly viruses. As mentioned above.  Also, Polio, Flu, HPV etc. You can get viral or bacterial pneumonia. Pneumonia is infection of the lungs due to fluid buildup and then usually it is a "secondary" organism that was not the initial infection that you get when you have lowered immunity due to the virus or some other condition. You can also get bacterial pneumonia as a secondary infection. Bacterial pneumonia is usually caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is a bacteria that can be in the throat or respiratory tract in small numbers and it can be normal bacteria until someone gets run down due to a viral infection, fungal infection or other reasons. Then the Streptococcus bacteria can take over the lungs and cause a bad infection. It is treatable with antibiotics. Viruses are not treatable with antibiotics. But they are sometimes given to a person with a virus to prevent s bacterial "secondary" infection. Covid19 infection can cause damage to the lungs and other cells, especially if you get a bad infection. Antibiotics may or may not help in this case. It would only help if a bacteria gets in the lungs after infection from the primary infection caused by Coronavirus (SARSCov2). When a person is immunocompromised (Lowered Immunity), and especially have other problems, such as asthma or fungus of the lung plus asthma etc. Then you can get multiple bacteria infecting the lungs.  This is unusual but can happen. My aunt recently died of Aspergilloma of the lungs, sadly.
mkh9    Microbiologist, M(ASCP)

[Paxiled]

I'm not sure this is still recommended, to give an antibiotic to prevent a theoretical infection.  Given the extreme overuse of them, they don't work so well anymore, and we're much more aware of their negative effects on the immune system, digestion, and mental health by indiscriminate killing off of beneficial organisms.  I know it's still done sometimes, but we all need to be wary of docs with a quick antibiotic trigger finger.  Very sorry about your Aunt.  Very sad.

[AnxiousNoMore]

No, unfortunately otherwise they would just vax us all for pneumonia. Sepsis is a leading cause of deaths from Covid.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Dr. Robert Amler, formerly a medical epidemiologist and agency chief medical officer at CDC told Fox News on Monday that a pneumonia shot to prevent against this particular respiratory infection will not be effective in staving off pneumonia caused by coronavirus.
Vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not protect against coronavirus, which is a newly discovered virus with no vaccine or cure to date, according to the World Health Organization.