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Are Pneumonia Shots Safe To Take While Undergoing Treatment For Cold And Cough?

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Posted on Thu, 2 Aug 2018
Question: I’m still having some productive cough and nasal congestion from cold and my dr said ok to get flu shot. He’ll do it intradermally. Still, a bit nervous about getting sick because i’ve talked to people who said they had the worst flu ever the year they got flu shot and Not since and now they never get one and also don’t get flu. Getting it at allergist office whose specialty is immunology (slight allergy to eggs and chicken)—he said as long as i don’t have a fever and not having severe asthma symptoms (which he said ‘you’re not’), get it. He’s 70, very healthy, and just got his 2nd flu shot of the season. I live in Fla and my allergist make rounds at All Children’s Hospital, he spoke to ID dr who said flu season here will be another 6 weeks. Since it takes 2 weeks for effect plus i’m staying away from crowds, wearing masks, wiping everything down, should I chance it, (and get a flu shot) given i’m still coughing and a bit hoarse and blowing nose. Plus i’ve had a cold 3 x and have achiness for a couple days each time. Not achy now. I rarely get colds but do have chronic sinusitis and might have atypical mycobacterium which we’re testing for since last 3 years (only showed up once on multiple sputum tests—was rare—and never grew into anything, id dr said, after blood tests, CAT scan, you just may Not have it. ). Still, I cough a lot, relieved by inhaler for a while. You can tell i’m freaking out because of mercury, aluminum etc going into body and everything else I said above. I’ve only had 1 flu shot in my life, about 2000. Had pneumonia shot back then too, after having had pneumonia. Dr Ofc said wait a month after flu shot to get pneumonia shot. I’m 76. Thank you for any advice.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Jolanda (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
no worries about

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome in HCM

I can understand your concern

Usually we recommend the flu shot (every year, in autumn ) and the pneumonia shot (every five years ) for every subject over 60 years with or without comorbidities. Yes i agree that between them should be at least one month.

In your case as you explain the history i don't recommend you to do the flu shot now because you are already with a.cold.Wait for he situation to be normalised again.

Chronic cough of yours might from sinusitis too.

However don't be afraid of the vaccines. They are well studied and have a lot of positivities for the organism.

But remind that having the flu vaccination don't mean that you will not get the flu but it will be a light one.

Hope to have been helpful for you

Regards and feel free to ask me again

Dr.Jolanda


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Jolanda (1 hour later)
I’ve been waiting for the situation to normalize but it hasn’t, I was over the cold for 2 days and someone with cold, hacking and coughing and sneezing was in waiting room and by the next day, there I was with achiness and cough and congestion tho still no fever. I don’t know how I picked it up so fast again but I did.
I was taking Vit C, D, NAC, Zinc but haven’t done for few days.
I’m so confused because I read both things, get it, don’t get it-what could happen if I do get the flu shot? Could I get sicker?
I was hoping you’d say ok to get.
Thanks


Ps, thank you for addressing all my questions.
One more thing, intradermanally getting flu shot is supposed to give less symptoms.
Is this true?
If this is cough from sinusitis would you have said ok to get shot.
I feel like just not leaving house until season passes.
And: if I wait a month for pneumonia shot, flu season should be done. Do I still get pneumonia shot?
Thanks very much. XXXXXXX green
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Jolanda (19 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
continue discussion

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,

No, please don't take it now because you might be sicker.

I meant that a chronic cough is from sinusitis while this actual situation is mostly cold.

The administration manner is not related to its effectiveness.

So first wait for your situation gets better than do the flu shot and after one month does the pneumonia vaccine.

Regards

Dr.Jolanda


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Jolanda

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 2904 Questions

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Are Pneumonia Shots Safe To Take While Undergoing Treatment For Cold And Cough?

Brief Answer: no worries about Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome in HCM I can understand your concern Usually we recommend the flu shot (every year, in autumn ) and the pneumonia shot (every five years ) for every subject over 60 years with or without comorbidities. Yes i agree that between them should be at least one month. In your case as you explain the history i don't recommend you to do the flu shot now because you are already with a.cold.Wait for he situation to be normalised again. Chronic cough of yours might from sinusitis too. However don't be afraid of the vaccines. They are well studied and have a lot of positivities for the organism. But remind that having the flu vaccination don't mean that you will not get the flu but it will be a light one. Hope to have been helpful for you Regards and feel free to ask me again Dr.Jolanda