About 5 to 10 percent of people have mild side effects such as headache or low-grade fever, which last for about a day after vaccination. The flu shot is the primary method of preventing and controlling the flu. When taken within 48 hours after the onset of illness, these drugs reduce the duration of fever and other symptoms. These drugs are available only by prescription. Pneumococcal Disease Pneumococcal disease is a serious infection.
Many people are familiar with pneumo-coccal pneumonia, which affects the lungs.
But the bacteria that cause this form of pneumonia also can attack other parts of the body. When the same bacteria invade the lining of the brain, they cause meningitis. When they enter the bloodstream, they cause bacteremia. They also can cause middle ear and sinus infections. The CDC recommends that people 65 and older get the pneumococcal vaccine.