Vaccinations in COPD

Influenza vaccination

• reduces serious illness and death in COPD patients
• vaccines containing either killed live inactivated virus are recommended as they are more effective in elderly patients with COPD
• population-based studies have reported a decreased risk of ischemic heart disease when they were vaccinated with influenza vaccine over many years

COVID-19 vaccination

• SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccination is recommended for people with COPD

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination

• RSV vaccine is recommended for individuals over 60 years and/or with chronic heart or lung disease

Pneumococcal vaccination

• the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) has been shown to reduce the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia in COPD patients <65 years with an FEV1 <40% predicted and in those with comorbidities (especially cardiac)
• in adults >=65 years, the 13-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine (PCV13) has shown significant efficacy in reducing bacteraemia and serious invasive pneumococcal disease (1)

Reference:

1. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 2025 report. 2025 [internet publication].