For those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it’s important to know which vaccines will help prevent respiratory illnesses.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 15.7 million people in the United States have a diagnosis of COPD — or about 6.4 percent of the U.S. population.

Because COPD impairs breathing, contracting a respiratory infection can have serious consequences for people with COPD. But there are vaccines available that can help prevent some of these infections.

People with COPD are more likely to get seriously ill from COVID-19, the disease caused by an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Serious COVID-19 illness may result in:

A 2021 study found that the mortality rate from COVID-19 was 15 percent for people with COPD, compared with 4 percent for people without COPD.

The study also found that people with COPD were more likely to have other health conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19, including:

Having COPD may increase your risk of potentially serious complications from the flu.

The CDC recommends that all people ages 6 months or older receive a flu vaccine each year. This is particularly important for people with chronic health conditions.

A 2019 study evaluated 4,755 hospitalized people who also had COPD. In this group, having the flu was associated with an increased risk of critical illness or death. But receiving the flu vaccine was associated with a 38 percent reduction in flu-related hospitalizations.

Pneumococcal disease is caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus pneumoniae. It can cause pneumonia. Older adults, especially those with chronic lung conditions like COPD, are at an increased risk of pneumococcal disease.

The CDC recommends that people of certain ages or that have certain medical conditions, including COPD, receive a pneumococcal vaccine.

The CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for:

  • All children younger than 5 years old
  • Children ages 5 through 18 years old with certain risk conditions
  • All adults 50 years of age or older
  • Adults ages 19 through 49 years of age or older with certain risk conditions

PPSV23 is the recommended type of vaccination for pneumococcal disease recommended for adults and children of certain ages and medical conditions. The CDC guidelines also advise that 1 dose of PCV15, or 1 dose of PCV20, or 1 dose of PCV21 can be given as the primary dosing regimen.

A 2017 review looked at 12 studies on pneumococcal vaccines in people with COPD. The review found that vaccination:

  • helped protect against community-acquired pneumonia
  • reduced the likelihood of COPD exacerbation

The Tdap vaccine is used to help prevent:

The DTaP vaccine is given to children age 6 and under. Tdap is typically for people over age 7.

A 2020 reviewreported that pertussis infections were becoming more common around the world. At the same time, COPD cases have also been rising. Tdap vaccination helps lower your risk of pertussis infection, which can be especially harmful if you have COPD.

A 2021 study also found that people with COPD in the United Kingdom needed additional medical care and incurred higher costs from pertussis infections.

The CDC also recommends that people with COPD get vaccinated against herpes zoster (shingles).

People are much more likely to get shingles as they get older. The National Institute on Aging estimates that half of all people who get shingles are ages 60 or older. COPD is also most common in older adults.

A 2018 studyof nearly 2.3 million people in Spain found that people with COPD were 45 percent in COPD patients, and 61% in patients with COPD who are receiving inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) more susceptible to getting herpes zoster. The risk of shingles rose by 45% and 61% among COPD and COPD-ICS patients, respectively, compared to people without COPD.

Since your immune system tends to become weaker with age, shingles can be even more dangerous if you already have symptoms or complications related to COPD, especially because people with COPD can develop shingles more easily.

Infections can cause potentially serious complications in people with COPD. But some of these infections are preventable through vaccination.

Public health experts recommend that people with COPD get certain vaccines to help reduce the likelihood of serious respiratory complications. These vaccines include those for:

  • COVID-19
  • the flu
  • pneumococcal disease
  • Tdap
  • herpes zoster (shingles)

If you have COPD, talk with a doctor about your current vaccinations. They can let you know which vaccines you may need and when you should receive them.