Do pneumonia vaccines protect against COVID-19?

Vaccines that protect against pneumonia, such as the pneumococcal vaccine and the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, do not protect against COVID-19. These vaccines are specific for certain pathogens and do not protect against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

The pneumococcal vaccine protects against infections caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, such as pneumococcal pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia. It is effective in preventing bacterial pneumonia and other serious pneumococcal infections, but it does not protect against viral infections such as COVID-19.

The Hib vaccine protects against infections caused by the bacteria haemophilus influenzae type b, including pneumonia, meningitis, and epiglottitis. Like the pneumococcal vaccine, the Hib vaccine does not protect against viruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Vaccines specifically designed to protect against COVID-19 include mRNA vaccines (such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) and vector vaccines (such as AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson). These vaccines are specifically designed to provide immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and have been shown to be effective in preventing COVID-19 infections and reducing the severity of the disease.

Although pneumococcal and Hib vaccines do not protect against COVID-19, they remain important in preventing other serious bacterial infections, especially in vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly, and people with underlying health conditions.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7461283/

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2022-12-01 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024