DR. BRYAN CEPEDOZA
FOR AUGUST 13, 2023
A Question & Answer Session
on Pneumonia with
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza
(Part 2)
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): Good afternoon, Dr.
Bryan. We will continue with our discussion of
Pneumonia today. Here is a question from a radio
listener. The question is: How important is
pneumonia vaccine or flu vaccine to a patient who
is undergoing dialysis?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: Pneumonia vaccine or flu vaccine
is important to a patient on dialysis. Why?
TBT: Yes, Why?
Dr. Bryan: People who are on dialysis, or people who
have high blood pressure, or those who are diabetic,
alcoholic, or those who smoke a lot, etc., are people,
who are prone to Flu and Pneumonia. So it is very
important for them to undergo vaccination against
pneumonia or flu. These dialysis patients, most of them
are immuno-compromised. Let us remember that our
kidneys have functions. One of the functions of our
kidneys is to excrete waste from our body. A person who
is on dialysis no longer has the same quality of kidneys
owned by a person who is not on dialysis. This is the
reason that a person on dialysis has to protect his
kidneys more than anybody else, since his kidneys are
not perfect anymore. He needs to protect his immune
system, too. All of us need to protect our kidneys, our
lungs, etc. We need to boost our lungs by getting
vaccinated. Not just the flu and pneumonia vaccination.
We have to include other vaccines to protect ourselves
from diseases, from bacteria and viruses.
TBT: I understand.
Dr. Bryan: And the most common vaccines are flu
vaccine and the pneumonia vaccine, among others.
Please note that dialysis patients may have low
resistance. Moreover, when they undergo dialysis, they
keep on going back to the hospital. Unya kay ang
hospital ra ba kay usa ka dapit nga adunay isog
kaayo nga mga kagaw. Ma exposed na usab ang
atong dialysis patients didto. So, the dialysis patient is
really prone to getting sick easily. They need vaccines to
fight all these.
TBT: Aside from the dialysis patients, who else
would qualify for a pneumonia vaccine?
Dr. Bryan: okay. Who needs to get pneumococcal
vaccines? All infants, young children, and adults age 65
years and older need to get vaccinated against
pneumococcal disease.
TBT: Which should I choose? Flu vaccine or
pneumonia vaccine?
Dr. Bryan: There are differences between the
pneumococcal vaccine (the pneumonia shot) and the flu
shot. Those who have a higher chance of contracting
pneumococcal infections–pneumonia, meningitis and
bloodstream infections–must choose the pneumococcal
vaccine.
TBT: Will you please explain pneumococcal
vaccine, Dr. Bryan?
Dr. Bryan: Pneumococcal vaccines are vaccines
against the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. You
can find this definition from different sources and
journals. The use of these vaccines can prevent some
cases of pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. There are
two types of pneumococcal vaccines: conjugate
vaccines and polysaccharide vaccines. This is according
to our study. (To be continued)