Is It Too Late for Me to Get a Pneumonia Shot if My Spouse Was Diagnosed 2 Weeks Ago?

Quick Answer: No, it is not too late to get a pneumonia shot even if your spouse was diagnosed just two weeks ago. However, based on the available evidence, a pneumonia shot may not significantly alter the course of the infection in otherwise healthy adults who do not have compromised immune systems.

The Quick Answer Explained

If you are a healthy adult, aged 49, with no known immune deficiencies, getting a pneumococcal vaccine (pneumonia shot) has not shown to be effective in preventing the disease in people affected similarly to your spouse. The pneumococcal vaccine is designed to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia, which is caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, but it has not been proven to be effective in preventing pneumococcal pneumonia in adults unless they fall into a high-risk category.

Pneumonia itself is not considered a contagious disease, unlike tuberculosis, which is highly contagious. The incubation period for Streptococcus pneumoniae is very short, just 1 to 3 days, making it nearly impossible to contract the infection from your spouse after the diagnosis was confirmed two weeks ago.

The Detailed Explanation

Pneumococcal pneumonia, specifically, is a common infection, especially among young children under 4 years old and adults over 65. About 2/3 to 3/4 of bacterial pneumonias are caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is the target of the pneumococcal vaccine. However, the vaccine is not effective against other causative organisms of pneumonia.

Needing a pneumonia shot is particularly relevant for adults with compromised immune systems, such as those with sickle cell anemia, multiple spleen infarcts, HIV/AIDS, or those undergoing dialysis or hematologic cancer treatments. In these cases, the vaccine has been proven to have a significant impact, reducing the risk of invasive pneumococcal disease by about 53-55%. However, for otherwise healthy individuals, the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing all-cause pneumonia is not well demonstrated.

According to data from The Netherlands, where the vaccine is routinely administered to babies, even for adults with lower immunity (like those already mentioned), there is currently no definitive proof of its efficacy in reducing overall mortality or hospitalization rates for pneumonia. This is supported by the review from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews noting that the PPS-23 vaccine offers only modest protection (53-55%) against invasive pneumococcal disease, but does not significantly prevent all-cause pneumonia.

Conclusion: Although it may not offer significant protection in your specific case, getting a pneumococcal vaccine is always a good idea, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are part of a high-risk group. Regular check-ups and following medical advice are key to maintaining your health, even in times of concern.