For patients at risk, how often can pneumonia vaccination be administered according to CMS guidelines?

According to CMS guidelines, the pneumonia vaccination can be administered once per lifetime for patients at risk. This recommendation is based on the understanding that certain patient populations, such as the elderly and those with specific underlying health conditions (like chronic lung disease or immunocompromised states), are at higher risk for pneumonia and benefit from vaccination.

The purpose of the vaccination is to provide long-term protection against pneumococcal infections, which can lead to pneumonia, and a single administration is effective for most patients within these risk categories. Further vaccinations may be warranted in select cases or based on specific patient clinical guidelines, but the standard protocol for most at-risk individuals is a one-time vaccination. Thus, recognizing this standard is crucial for proper adherence to CMS guidelines.