Pneumonia Prevention and Treatment

Preventing pneumonia starts before illness

Our clinic offers pneumococcal, influenza and COVID-19 vaccination. These target different infections, so we consider age, medical conditions and previous doses. Vaccines cannot prevent every pneumonia episode, but can reduce the occurrence or severity of the infections they target.

Pneumococcal vaccination — including after an earlier dose

Pneumococcus can cause pneumonia and serious infections of the bloodstream or tissues around the brain. Older adults and people with heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes or immunosuppressive treatment should discuss vaccination.

“21-valent” does not mean all 20 PCV20 serotypes plus one. The vaccines have overlapping and distinct serotypes.

Routine vaccination generally applies at age 65, or ages 60–64 with certain specified disabilities. Eligibility also depends on vaccination history. We check local municipality rules for subsidies and fees.

MSD: patient guide for CAPVAXIVE (Japanese PDF)

More about pneumococcal vaccines

Influenza vaccination

Influenza can cause viral pneumonia or be followed by bacterial pneumonia. Vaccination helps reduce illness and severe outcomes. Annual vaccination is considered as circulating viruses and immunity change.

COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 can also cause pneumonia and respiratory failure. Reducing hospitalization and death is an important reason for vaccination, particularly for older adults and people with underlying conditions. We check the seasonal formulation, age and timing of previous doses.

Please bring vaccination records and your medication list. We confirm the product, timing, subsidies and fees when arranging vaccination.

Vaccination and self-pay fees

Everyday prevention alongside vaccination

Hand hygiene, ventilation and appropriate mask use complement vaccination. Avoiding smoking and caring for teeth and dentures are also important. Recurrent choking during meals warrants assessment of swallowing.

Symptoms and tests

Fever, cough, sputum, breathlessness and chest pain can be clues. Older adults may instead have reduced appetite, low energy or confusion without a high fever.

Assessment includes temperature, breathing, oxygen levels and blood pressure, with chest X-ray and blood tests when needed. CT may be considered if an X-ray is unclear or another illness or complication is suspected.

When can pneumonia be treated as an outpatient?

Outpatient treatment requires attention to stable breathing and blood pressure, clear awareness, and the ability to drink, eat and take oral medicine. Other illnesses, support at home and access to reassessment also matter.

Low oxygen, low blood pressure, altered awareness or significant dehydration may require hospital care.

Treatment depends on the cause and overall condition

For pneumonia suitable for outpatient treatment, the causative bacteria may not be identifiable at the first visit. In these cases, we select an antibiotic such as lascufloxacin that covers both typical bacteria and organisms such as Mycoplasma, taking the patient’s condition into account. We reassess symptoms after treatment begins.

Patients with severe breathlessness or poor overall condition are referred to a facility that can provide inpatient care.

Antibiotics do not treat the virus itself. Antivirals may be considered for influenza or COVID-19 according to time since onset and risk of severe illness; antibiotics are added when bacterial infection is also present.

Adult Pneumonia Guideline 2024: outpatient antibiotic options (pp.35–38, Japanese)

Reassessment after starting treatment

We assess breathing, food and fluid intake and overall condition, not fever alone. Poor improvement prompts reassessment for resistant organisms, another illness or complications. Follow-up timing is arranged during consultation. If symptoms worsen, contact medical services without waiting for the appointment.

References

• Japanese Respiratory Society: Adult Pneumonia Guideline 2024
• Joint Japanese respiratory, infectious-disease and vaccinology societies: pneumococcal vaccination for adults aged 65 or older, eighth edition
• MHLW: influenza vaccine
• MHLW: COVID-19 vaccine Q&A

Prepared using sources checked on September 10, 2026. Treatment is based primarily on the 2024 guideline; later vaccine approvals and policies are supplemented by newer official and society information.