Getting protection against pneumonia
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From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.
Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death for older people, but a vaccination can reduce the risk. The 2009 National Healthcare Quality Report produced by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, or AHRQ, reports that the proportion of people 65 and older who got vaccinated rose from 53 percent to 58 percent between 2000 and 2007.
However, the researchers note this is still well below the federal target of 90 percent by 2010. Researcher Karen Ho:
``If you know anyone in your family or have friends who are over 65, make sure they get vaccinated for pneumonia.'' (7 seconds)
The study is in AHRQ's News and Numbers.
Learn more at hhs.gov.
HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.