Symptoms From Pneumonia Shots

Pneumonia shots are recommended for people who are susceptible to the illness. These include elderly people, children under 2 years of age, anyone with a chronic illness such as diabetes, and anyone with a weakened immune system from a disease such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or chemotherapy. Some people experience minor side effect symptoms after a pneumonia shot.

Pain

According to the Foundation for Better Health Care (FBHC), about half the people who obtain a pneumonia shot experience swelling and pain at the injection site. Some pain can even be a bit extreme, but resolves within a few days (see Resources).

Fever

Other side effects occur in less than 1 percent of people, according to the FBHC. One of these is a low-grade fever.

Muscle Aches

Muscle pain symptoms also can occur after a pneumonia shot.

Rash

Rarely, people who get a pneumonia shot can develop a rash or hives.

Allergic Reaction

An allergic reaction which causes breathing difficulty requires immediate medical attention. This is more likely in people who are allergic to eggs or to the preservative thimerosal.

Misconceptions

Pneumonia shots cannot cause the disease itself because the shots only contain a component of the bacteria that is not infectious.

Resources

• Further information on pneumonia shots from FBHC