Should nursing and other health care staff receive pneumococcal vaccination to prevent transmitting the infection to elderly nursing home residents?
Answer: While pneumococcal vaccination is important, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention doesn't particularly recommend health care workers receive it - unless they have a risk factor, such as cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, or are age 65 or older. Studies show that pneumonia vaccination doesn't decrease the risk of a health care worker being a carrier of the microorganism and transmitting it to patients.
Source: Raymond Strikas, MD, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention