A 65-year-old man inquires about the pneumonia vaccine. He had a friend who recently died of pneumonia. The patient is in good health without underlying disease.
Which of the following is the most appropriate management of this patient?
A. Recommend the pneumococcal vaccine and check on the status of other immunizations, particularly influenza vaccinationThe pneumococcal vaccine is currently recommended for all patients at age 65 because age per se is a risk factor for mortality due to pneumococcal infection. The vaccine is safe, and the vaccination program for the elderly is cost-effective. If the patient had previous pneumococcal vaccine greater than 5 years ago, he should be revaccinated at age 65. The importance of the annual influenza vaccine should also be explained to the patient. All patients over the age of 65 are high priority to receive the influenza and pneumococcal vaccines whether they have underlying disease or not. Most deaths from influenza occur in the over-65 age group. If the visit is during influenza season, both vaccines should be given at the same time (but at different sites). Tetanus vaccination booster is also recommended in the elderly patient who has not had a booster vaccine in 10 years. Herpes zoster vaccine is recommended at age 50 and above.