The nurse is admitting a 56-year-old client with a diagnosis of exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and learns that the client received immunization for pneumococcal pneumonia 6 years ago. Which consideration is essential to include in the plan of care during the client's hospital admission?

During the history-taking of a client diagnosed with a respiratory disorder, the nurse should ask if the client had been previously vaccinated for influenza (flu) and had received pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine. Revaccination with pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine is currently advised in a client with COPD if the client received the vaccine more than 5 years previously and if the client was younger than 65 years of age at the time of vaccination. Although documentation would be done, this is not the essential action at this time. This vaccine does not provide lifelong immunity in a 56-year-old client who received the vaccine 6 years ago. The pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine is administered any time during the year.