Will the pneumonia vaccine protect you if you get coronavirus?
The COVID-19 coronavirus, which has so far claimed 11 lives in the United States and killed more than 3,000 worldwide, attacks the respiratory system, first causing shortness of breath along with fever. If it advances, patients can develop pneumonia in both lungs and it could lead to respiratory failure.
The natural progression of coronavirus symptoms has led many to ask whether the pneumonia vaccine, administered to millions of patients each year, might protect someone if they contract the virus.
The short answer is no, says Dr. Rachel Roper, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine.
“The current pneumonia vaccine protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria that cause pneumonia,” Roper told The News & Observer via email on Thursday. “That vaccine will not protect against SARS Cov2 COVID2019 pneumonia.”
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Roper did say that the Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine could protect against pneumonia brought on by SARSCoV2 that then caused a secondary infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae, but she thinks that would be “pretty rare.”
“It seems the SARSCoV2 itself is causing pneumonia, so that pneumonia vaccine will likely have no effect,” Roper said.
The World Health Organization stresses that “although these vaccines are not effective against 2019-nCoV, vaccination against respiratory illnesses is highly recommended to protect your health.”
Do you have questions about the coronavirus? The News & Observer will get the answers for you. Go to bit.ly/virusnc and let us know what you need to know.
This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 11:20 AM.
