By Alexander Nixon, student pharmacist and Karen Kier, Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

A proverb: "he who sleeps forgets his hunger." You do not notice hunger when you are fast asleep. This has significance for your health, especially the impact of the pandemic. For the last few years, we have focused on the current crisis of COVID-19. We may have been so focused that other critical parts of our health lapse. Several studies have published data that we have been ignoring some important health issues.

It is time to wake up and focus on crucial preventative measures that may be looming. Today's focus will be on vaccinations other than COVID-19 and continuing to prevent other diseases.

A critical immunization is the pneumococcal vaccine series. This vaccine can protect seniors and at-risk patients from developing deadly pneumonia caused by a bacteria known as Streptococcus pneumonia (known as Strep). Studies show the vaccine series protects 7 of 10 seniors from developing life-threatening pneumonia. The CDC recommends all adults 65 years or older and those at-risk over the age of 18 years who have never received a pneumococcal vaccine get a series. There are two pneumonia vaccines and they are pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines (PPSV). Conjugate vaccines use proteins to improve protection and polysaccharides use long-chains of sugars to help the body respond. Each vaccine name is followed by a number, which indicates how many Strep strains are covered.

In 2021, two new vaccines were FDA-approved for preventing pneumococcal pneumonia. Before adding the new vaccines to the market, the original schedule was Prevnar 13 (PCV13) followed one year later by Pneumovax23 (PPSV23). The new vaccines are both conjugate. Vaxneuvance (PCV15) can be used in place of PCV13 and still needs to be followed by PSV23 a year later. Prevnar 20 (PCV20) is different because it does not need to be followed by another vaccine so, it is one shot and done. Currently, there are no head to head studies that indicate that any one series is better than another but completing the series is crucial. 

You might be wondering if you need to go to your local pharmacy to get a pneumonia vaccine. If you have completed a two shot pneumonia series in the past, you do not need to get another one. If you have only had the PPSV23 vaccine, then you should receive a dose of PCV15 or PCV20 to complete the series. If you have only had PCV15, you should finish the series with PPSV23. If you have not had any pneumococcal vaccines, then if you are older than 65 years old, you should get one PCV15 followed by PPSV23 or just PCV20. If you are less than 65 years old, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist to see if you are at risk and could benefit from vaccination.

Another important health step is to help to prevent shingles caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox (varicella-zoster). After recovering from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in your body and can become active years later. Shingles present as a very painful rash that can last for weeks with nerve pain lasting for months to a year. It is estimated that more than 90% of Americans born before 1980 have had chickenpox, even if they do not have a memory of it.

If you are older than 50 years of age and have had chickenpox, you should talk to your healthcare professional about getting vaccinated with Shingrix. Even if you have had shingles in the past or received the Zostavax vaccine (recently discontinued), you should consider getting the Shingrix vaccine. The vaccination series consists of two shots 2 to 6 months apart. In adults 50 to 69 years old, Shingrix was 97% effective in preventing shingles and it was 91% effective in adults older than 70 years old. Talk to your pharmacist for more information on Shingrix.

One of the vaccines that is overlooked more than other vaccines is known as Tdap. Tdap covers tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis and is most commonly given for puncture wounds (metal, nails) to cover for tetanus. Although tetanus is important to prevent with a wound or injury, the most important aspect of the Tdap vaccine is the pertussis component.  Pertussis is often referred to as whooping cough.  Whooping cough can be deadly to babies less than 2 months old and can be severe in young children.  Most adults can survive pertussis, but they can have a severe cough for weeks. Tdap is important for anyone who is planning to be around small children to help protect them from this disease.  Tdap requires a booster shot every 10 years.  If you do not know when your last Tdap was given, then have your healthcare professional check the state system or find your record.  

Set your alarm for getting your necessary vaccinations to prevent diseases besides COVID-19 and do not sleep through this important information. 

The ONU HealthWise Pharmacy offers COVID-19, flu vaccines, TdaP, Pneumovax23, and Prevnar20. Feel free to call the ONU HealthWise Pharmacy for questions about any vaccine. Call the pharmacy for an appointment. Pediatric Pfizer vaccines (5 to 11-years) are available by appointment as well.

ONU HealthWise Pharmacy
419-772-3784
www.onuhealthwisepharmacy.com