Pneumonia is an illness that affects one or both lungs and that used to be one of the main causes of death 2 centuries ago. It is caused by microorganisms that attack the tissue from the lungs, causing it to inflammate and leading to a severe condition if the infection is not treated in time.

Nowadays pneumonia can easily be cured with the help of antibiotics. But the medication must be taken as soon as possible, before any complications start to appear. Many people confuse pneumonia with a tough cold when its first signs start to appear, and they only realize that it's in fact pneumonia when their condition gets worse because the affection starts to spread.
So, the best thing you can do in order to avoid this illness is to prevent it from appearing. How can you do that? By taking a pneumonia vaccine...

The pneumonia vaccine can protect you from the microorganisms that cause pneumonia. These microorganisms can affect other parts of the body too, including the brain, so getting a pneumonia vaccine would be a very wise idea, especially if you know that you have a weak defense system, or if you are over 65 years old, because in this situation a pneumonia can damage the body seriously.

Also, if you work in a hospital or if you must spend some time inside one, it is highly recommended to get a pneumonia vaccine, because the pneumonia virus spreads through the air, and if one patient sneezes or coughs it can get into the hospital's ventilation system and spread in a wide area. With a single shot you can avoid a lot of trouble, and the best thing about this vaccine is that it lasts a lifetime for most people. Those with other illnesses and with a weak defense system should periodically get this vaccine though, because they are at a higher risk.
People with HIV can die from pneumonia so they need this shot quite often.

If you got a pneumonia vaccine a long time ago and now you are over 65, you should consult your doctor in this matter. He will probably advise you to get another one because at elder people the risks are also higher.
Remember that the vaccine begins to work 2 weeks after you've had it, so do it in time if you know that you will be exposed to the virus in the future.

The shot is 100% effective, but certain factors may weaken it. Stress is know to do that. Some people that work in a stressful environment must take it yearly.
It rarely presents side effects like fever or irritation, but in most cases this does not occur.

So consult your doctor for more information about the pneumonia vaccination, especially if you know that you are at risk. One shot can spare you of the illness that affects thousands yearly because it can easily spread through the air.