Earlier this month Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton revealed she was battling pneumonia, an infection of the lung that typically impacts those who, like Clinton, are 65 year of age or older.
United Regional Hospital Director of Respiratory Services Therapist Darrin French said he sees many patients come in with typical pneumonia symptoms; such as coughing, fever, and difficulty breathing. French said that age is a factor considering an older person’s immune system might not be as strong as maybe someone who’s a bit younger.
“A regular cold or even the flu could turn into pneumonia and we see that a lot,” said French.
That’s why French recommends those 65 or older take a pneumonia vaccine yearly. Texomans can get vaccinated at the Wichita Falls Health Department off 1700 3rd Street downtown. Jenna Holden is one of two immunizations charge Registered Nurses for the WFHD. Holden said there are to separate vaccines that can be injected into those 65 years or older without a prescription.
“There is two different kinds of vaccines there is the Prevnar 13 vaccine or the Pneumovax 23 vaccine which is the typical pneumonia vaccine that the elderly think of,” said Holden.
A patient will receive the Prevnar vaccine in the first time they are vaccinated. After that year has passed Holden said that the patient will be given the Pneumovax 23 in the years following. While the vaccines are pricy, $173 for the Prevnar 13 and $93 for the Pneumovax 23, Holden said it’s much better to make the one time cost than risk putting off the any health issues you might have in the future.
“You don’t want to end up with these huge hospitalization bills,” said Holden.
For more information on the Wichita Falls Immunization Services you can click HERE for a link to their website to learn more about hours of operation and costs of services.
– Newschannel 6
