Pneumococcal pneumonia is a bacterial infection that accounts for up to a quarter of all pneumonias. The best preventive measures include washing your hands frequently and having the pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine.

Pneumococcal vaccine

Twenty three of the more than 80 different types of pneumococcus bacteria are covered in the current vaccination, which is injected into the body to stimulate the normal immune system to produce antibodies that are directed against pneumococcus bacteria.

Who should have the pneumococcal vaccination?

    • If you are 65 years and older, you should have the vaccination, as your immune system may be relatively impaired. If you were vaccinated prior to age 65, you should be vaccinated again at age 65. It is also important to take good care of yourself and get vaccinated against flu every year.
    • Children 23 months of age and younger. The vaccination can be given concurrently with other recommended childhood vaccines at 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months, but the number of doses required depends upon the age at which the vaccination was initiated. The vaccine is also recommended for all children 24 to 59 months of age who are at especially high risk of invasive pneumococcal infection. This includes children with sickle cell disease, HIV infection and other children who are immune-compromised.
    • People with chronic heart or lung disorders, including congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, chronic liver disease, alcoholism, spinal fluid leaks, cardiomyopathy, chronic bronchitis or emphysema (COPD). (Research has shown that having COPD and using inhaled corticosteroids for more than 24 weeks greatly increases the risk of developing pneumonia, possibly serious pneumonia.)
    • If your spleen has been removed, for instance after a road accident, or if your spleen is dysfunctional (such as with sickle cell disease) or does not function well (asplenia) as in blood malignancy (leukemias), multiple myeloma, kidney failure, organ transplantation or immune-suppressive conditions, including HIV infection. A second dose should be given at least five years after the first dose, if you suffer from any of these conditions, and if elective surgical removal of the spleen or immune-suppressive therapy is planned, the vaccine should be given two weeks prior to the procedure, if possible.

Who should not have the pneumococcal vaccine?

    • People with a prior history of hypersensitivity reactions to the vaccine should not have the vaccine
    • The safety of the pneumococcus vaccine for pregnant women has not yet been studied. There is no evidence that the vaccine is harmful to either the mother or the foetus, but pregnant women should consult with their doctor before being vaccinated. Women who are at high risk of pneumococcal disease should be vaccinated before becoming pregnant, if possible.

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EAP) is available 24 hours a day if you want to know more about the prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia.