Vaccination of adults with asthma and COPD

Abstract

Vaccines play a major role in preventing potentially life-threatening diseases. More attention is now focused on the adult population, particularly as they age, as a reservoir for vaccine-preventable diseases. Adults with comorbid conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are considered to be at higher risk for invasive diseases, many of which are preventable through routine vaccination. This article reviews the pertinent literature for the use of vaccines in the management of adult patients with asthma and COPD. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.