Vaccinate Against Flu and Bacterial Infections

Dr. Keith Klugman of Emory University , in this week's journal Science, recommends that as part of the pandemic flu prevention program that when individuals are vaccinated aginst flu they should also be vaccinated against pneumonia and meningitis. Dr. Klugman notes that bacterial infections, in particular pneumococcal disease, can follow a viral illness such as flu and cause secondary infections that worsen flu symptoms and increase influenza-related morbidity risk.