Vaccination advised for welders

According to the Society of
Occupational Medicine,
welders and other workers
exposed to metal fumes
should receive a simple
vaccination that can
prevent serious lung disease
and even save lives. A new
review of the evidence
published in the scientific
journal Occupational
Medicine found that
welders die more often
from certain types of
pneumonia and that they
should be offered the
PPV23 vaccination so that
potentially fatal lung
disease can be prevented.

“Many employers are
unaware that exposure to
welding fume can cause
pneumonia. Although fatal
cases are rare, they can
occur. Companies need to
ensure that anyone that
undertakes welding work
or is exposed to metal
fumes is offered the
vaccination,” said Professor
Keith Palmer, Professor of
Occupational Medicine at
the MRC Lifecourse
Epidemiology Unit,
University of Southampton
and the lead author of the
review.