Patient information from BMJ

Pneumonia: do I need a vaccine?

Last published:Apr 21, 2026

Pneumonia is an infection that causes inflammation (swelling) and mucus in your lungs. It can be serious, especially if you're older or have a long-term health condition. So, for some groups of people, doctors recommend vaccines that help prevent it.

You can use this information to talk with your doctor to decide which vaccines are right for you.

Which vaccines can protect me against pneumonia?

There are two vaccines that can help protect you against pneumonia. One is called the pneumococcal vaccine. The other is the flu vaccine.

It might sound strange to have a flu vaccine to prevent pneumonia. But having flu weakens your immune system. This makes you more likely to get other illnesses, including pneumonia. 

The pneumococcal vaccine

The pneumococcal vaccine is designed to protect against the most common type of pneumonia. The vaccine contains bacteria, but these bacteria are dead and can't harm you. The pneumococcal vaccine can't give you pneumonia or any other illness.

The vaccine can cause side effects in some people, such as:

• a sore arm where you had the shot

• a fever, and

• pain in some joints and muscles.

These side effects don't usually last more than a few days.

Different countries have different recommendations about who should have the pneumococcal vaccine and when.

For example, in the US, the pneumococcal vaccine is given as part of the regular vaccinations for children. Babies have four injections in total: at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and again between 12 and 15 months.[1]​ This is all that most people need. But you might need to have another injection if:[2][3]

• You are 50 years old or over and haven’t received the full, most effective pneumococcal vaccine before

• You have a higher risk of catching pneumonia because you smoke cigarettes or have an alcohol addiction

• You have a long-term condition, such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease, or sickle cell disease, or certain types of cancer

• You have no spleen, or you have a condition where your spleen doesn’t work properly, like celiac disease

• You have a cochlear implant (a device put inside your ear to help with hearing loss)

• You have a weak immune system due to a condition, like a complement deficiency or HIV

• You have a weak immune system due to medical treatment, like chemotherapy or steroids

• You have had cerebrospinal fluid leaking, possibly due to an accident or surgery (this fluid surrounds the brain and spine).

The flu vaccine

Having the flu makes you more likely to get pneumonia. So, if you have the flu vaccine, it might also reduce your chance of getting pneumonia.

The flu vaccine can't give you the flu. But it can cause similar side effects to the pneumonia shot.

You need to get a new shot every year, usually in autumn or early winter.

Different countries have different recommendations about who should have the flu vaccine and when.

For example, in the US, a flu vaccine is recommended each year for everyone over 6 months old.[1][2]​ It’s especially important if you’re at risk of becoming very unwell if you get flu. This includes:[4]

• people over 65 years old

• children under 5 years old, but especially those under 2 years old

• pregnant women

• people who are very overweight

• people from specific racial and ethnic groups

• people with a long-term condition, such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, sickle cell disease, or a condition that affects your brain or nerves

• people with no spleen, or people with a condition where their spleen doesn’t work properly, like celiac disease

• people with a lung condition, such as COPD or cystic fibrosis

• people with a weak immune system due to a condition, like a complement deficiency or HIV

• people with a weak immune system due to medical treatment, like chemotherapy or steroids

• children taking specific long-term medications

• people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

The flu vaccine is also available as a nasal spray. It contains flu viruses that are alive, but very weak. That way you build up immunity without getting sick. The spray can be given to children ages 2 and older and to adults under age 50. People must be in good health to have the vaccine in this way.