Be careful to prevent respiratory infections in autumn and winter! The Medical Association released five major vaccination recommendations for chronic lung disease

Lin Hongquan, chairman of the Taiwan Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Society and the Taiwan Asthma Society, shared that the two societies have been in line with international guidelines and formulated vaccination recommendations covering the five major respiratory diseases to help patients with chronic lung diseases prevent infections in advance.

[Health Channel/Comprehensive Report] As temperatures turn cooler in autumn and winter, patients with chronic lung disease should be more careful to prevent respiratory infections! Doctors remind that once patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma become infected, it may not only aggravate coughing and dyspnea, but may also induce acute exacerbation, pneumonia or even hospitalization, disrupting the control of the original disease. Therefore, in addition to stabilizing treatment, the five major vaccines of influenza, COVID-19, Streptococcus pneumoniae, RSV and whooping cough should also be included in infection prevention. It is recommended to evaluate the patient's age, disease status, previous vaccination history and individual risks, and plan a suitable vaccination plan through shared decision-making between doctors and patients.

In order to strengthen infection prevention for patients with chronic lung disease, the Taiwan Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Society and the Taiwan Asthma Society jointly announced the "Respiratory Vaccination Recommendations for Taiwan's Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma Patients" today (5th), integrating influenza, COVID-19, Streptococcus pneumoniae, respiratory The "Five Major Vaccines" for RSV and pertussis, and integrating international guidelines, medical evidence, and clinical scenarios in Taiwan, provide local vaccination references, hoping to incorporate vaccination into the long-term management of chronic lung disease and promote complete care from stable treatment to infection prevention.

The two societies advocate 5 major vaccines to strengthen protection

Studies have shown that COPD patients who are vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal vaccines together can reduce the risk of acute exacerbations, pneumonia and related hospitalizations by about 70%. RSV vaccination in adults over 60 years old can also reduce RSV-related severe acute exacerbations in COPD patients by about 70% and in asthma patients by about 60%. This shows that appropriate vaccination can help reduce the subsequent impact of infection on patients with chronic lung disease.

Jiang Qihui, founding director of the Taiwan Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Society and the Taiwan Asthma Society, said that infection is a common cause of acute exacerbation in patients with COPD and asthma. Patients not only suffer from the disease itself, but may also increase the burden of family care and health insurance. Therefore, a sufficiently complete and continuous care model is particularly important, taking into account disease prevention and incorporating vaccination into the care plan.

Lin Hongquan, chairman of the Taiwan Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Society and the Taiwan Asthma Society, further pointed out that groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, and patients with chronic diseases are at higher risk of severe illness once respiratory infections occur; among them, for patients with COPD and asthma, a single infection is more likely to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome. Sexual exacerbation and disrupting the control of original diseases. Therefore, this vaccination recommendation focuses on the five major vaccines of influenza, COVID-19, Streptococcus pneumoniae, RSV and whooping cough. It is also recommended to evaluate the patient's age, disease status, previous vaccination history and individual risks, and plan a suitable vaccination plan through shared decision-making between doctors and patients.

Feng Jiayi, director of the Taiwan Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Society, added that for COPD and asthma patients, the impact of respiratory infections often does not stop at the moment of infection, but may also lead to acute exacerbation, which in turn affects the original stable disease control. Research shows that among patients hospitalized due to respiratory cell fusion virus (RSV) infection, the proportion of COPD patients experiencing acute exacerbation can exceed 80%, and the proportion of asthma patients can exceed 60%. On the other hand, if COPD patients are hospitalized due to acute exacerbation, even after 12 weeks, nearly 40% of patients still have not fully recovered their physical functions.