Adults who received the pneumococcal vaccine were less likely to die from pneumonia when hospitalized for the condition than patients who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Vaccination also reduces risk for respiratory failure, kidney failure and heart attack.

Theory: Vaccination prevents invasion into the bloodstream of pneumonia-causing bacteria, lowering risk for organ failure. The CDC recommends that adults age 65 and older and younger people with risk factors, such as diabetes, asthma or kidney disease, get the pneumonia vaccine.

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