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Vaccinations
Vaccinations are effective tools to prevent infections in people with pulmonary fibrosis, to help stay healthy1
Being proactive about preventing health problems is an important part of staying healthy for anyone living with a lung disease.1
Vaccines are products which protect people against some potentially serious infectious diseases. Unlike most medicines that treat or cure diseases, vaccines prevent them.1
IMPORTANT
It is very important that people with pulmonary fibrosis receive vaccinations, as lung infections can cause symptoms to worsen. For example, if someone with pulmonary fibrosis contracts the flu, the flu symptoms can become serious as the patient’s lungs are vulnerable.2
Millions of people receive vaccinations every year and very few people have any serious side effects after receiving one. More often, you might have a sore arm, a mild fever and some aches after receiving a vaccine. These responses are normal. They are due to your body creating a natural response that will help protect you from infections in the future. Speak to your healthcare team for more information about side effects before vaccination.3
Four of the most important vaccines which patients with pulmonary fibrosis may need to receive are outlined below.
Flu (influenza) vaccination
The symptoms of flu can contribute to a worsening of symptoms for patients with pulmonary fibrosis. For this reason, it is important that people who have lung disease are considered to receive the vaccine for flu every year.2
Flu comes in many different forms. Each year you may receive a new vaccination to ensure that you are better protected for the year ahead.1
The flu vaccination prevents many people contracting flu and can help to reduce the risk of developing severe flu symptoms.
Pneumonia vaccination
Pneumonia can cause complications and exacerbate the symptoms of people with chronic pulmonary conditions, including pulmonary fibrosis.2,4 Therefore, it is very important that people with pulmonary fibrosis receive the pneumonia vaccination.2,4
There are two types of pneumonia vaccines for adults that protect against different types of the infection. These are known as the PPSV23 and PCV13 vaccines. Both vaccines are designed to prevent pneumonia caused by pneumococcus, the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in adults. Your doctor may prescribe you both vaccines.4
Shingles vaccination (also known as zoster)5
Shingles is caused by the same virus (called zoster) which causes chicken pox. Anyone who has had chicken pox as a child has the virus lying dormant in their nerves. As we get older, sometimes the virus can reactivate and cause shingles.
The best way to prevent shingles is by using a vaccination called the zoster vaccine. This vaccine reduces the likelihood that you experience a reactivation of the virus in your body.
The vaccine contains a weak version of the actual virus. This means that if you are taking medications that weaken the immune system, it may not be appropriate for you to take this vaccine.
Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination
Over the past few years, whooping cough (also known as pertussis) has made a return.6 Whooping cough can also worsen symptoms for people with pulmonary fibrosis.
Although many people have been vaccinated for whooping cough as a child, the vaccine becomes less effective over time.6,7 For this reason, adults should also have a booster vaccine for whooping cough.1,7
Make sure you speak to your treatment team about the right vaccinations to protect your health moving forward.
Key takeaways
A proactive approach is important to protecting your health with pulmonary fibrosis
Vaccines are useful steps towards preventing lung infections
The pneumonia, whooping cough and annual flu vaccines are important to consider
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European Lung Foundation. Vaccination and lung disease. Available at: https://www.lhch.nhs.uk/media/5197/breathe-booklet-final.pdf [Accessed April 2019].
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Cottin V, Crestani B, Valeyre D, et al. Diagnosis and management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: French practical guidelines. Eur Respir Rev. 2014;23:193–124.
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NHS Choices. Vaccinations. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/reporting-side-effects/. [Accessed March 2022].
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Mirsaeidi M, Ebrahimi G, Allen MB, Aliberti S. Pneumococcal Vaccine and Patients with Pulmonary Diseases. Am J Med. 2014;127(9):886.e1–886.e8.
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Kimberlin DW, Whitley RJ. Varicella-Zoster vaccine for the prevention of herpes-zoster. New Engl J Med. 2007;365:1338–1343.
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Cherry JD. Epidemic pertussis in 2012—the resurgence of a vaccine-preventable disease. N Engl J Med. 2012;367(9):785–787.
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Pesek R, Lockey R. Vaccination of adults with asthma and COPD. Allergy. 2011;66(1):25–31.
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“It is important to stay positive, to find the doctor that you trust in, to have a good support from the family, stay active, have a healthy food intake, and so overall it is important to create a positive atmosphere”
