Did you know there is more than one kind of pneumonia? Although pneumonia always means an infection of the lungs, there are actually many different types.

Two of the most common types are viral and bacterial.

The most common type of bacterial pneumonia is called pneumococcal pneumonia.

Pneumococcal pneumonia can be serious.

Symptoms can come on quickly and can include cough, fatigue, high fever, shaking chills, and chest pain with difficulty breathing.

Some symptoms can last for weeks or longer.

In severe cases, pneumococcal pneumonia can lead to hospitalization or in some cases, even death.

Pneumococcal pneumonia is not a cold or the flu. It is a bacterial lung disease, while the flu and cold are caused by viruses.

In some cases, pneumococcal pneumonia can cause part of your lung to fill up with mucus, making it hard to breathe.

You can catch pneumococcal pneumonia through coughing or close contact. It can strike anywhere, anytime, and may hit quickly and without warning.

It's not just old and unhealthy people who are at risk for pneumococcal pneumonia. If you are 65 or older, or between 19 and 64 with certain chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, COPD, or chronic heart disease, you may be at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia.

That's because as you get older or have certain chronic health conditions like asthma or diabetes your immune system becomes less able to respond to infections.

Help protect yourself.

Getting vaccinated can help prevent pneumococcal pneumonia.

Even if you were already vaccinated with another pneumonia vaccine. If you're 65 or older, or between 19 and 64 with certain chronic health conditions like asthma or diabetes, ask your doctor or pharmacist if vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia is right for you.

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