Final answer:
TRUE, pneumococcal vaccination is critical before the age of 1 for patients with sickle cell anemia to prevent severe infections, aligning with the immunization schedule for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13).
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that 'vaccination for pneumococcal pneumonia should be performed before 1 year of age in patients with sickle cell anemia' is TRUE. Patients with sickle cell anemia are at a higher risk of infections due to impaired spleen function, which is important in fighting bacterial infections, including those caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. It's essential for these patients to receive the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) as part of their immunization schedule. This vaccine is commonly administered to children younger than 2 years and is specifically designed to help prevent invasive diseases caused by the many serotypes of pneumococcal bacteria. Therefore, administering this vaccine before the age of 1 aligns with the goal of protecting vulnerable individuals from potentially life-threatening infections such as pneumonia and meningitis.