Pneumococcal pneumonia, a kind of pneumonia, can infect the upper respiratory tract and can spread to the blood, lungs, middle ear, or nervous system. Pneumonia is most serious for infants and young children, people older than age 65, and people with health problems or weakened immune systems.

Bacteria in the air we breathe is one of the most common causes of pneumonia. Your body usually prevents these germs from infecting your lungs. But sometimes these germs can overpower your immune system, even if your health is generally good.

Vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect yourself. When enough people are vaccinated, the germs that cause pneumonia cannot travel as easily from person to person since the number of people who could pass along the bacteria or viruses is reduced.

As more people are vaccinated against a disease like pneumonia, more protection is given to the entire community as a whole. This is known as “community immunity,” or “herd immunity.”

There is a need for vaccines that protect against a wider array of bacteria that could result in infection. Researchers are evaluating a study vaccine that may be able to offer protection, and they need healthy volunteers age 18 and older.

If you are 50 and older, you may still qualify even if you’ve had one or both of the currently available vaccines. Your risk for pneumonia increases with age, so take the next step toward prevention.

Protect yourself and you can protect others!

Take the next step to see if you qualify for local pneumonia vaccine research studies for otherwise healthy people. But don’t delay — space is limited!