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WHAT IS PNEUMO?

Pneumo, or Pneumococcal disease, is a major cause of illness and death in Ireland, particularly among the very young, the elderly and those with a weakened immune system.1

In Ireland, 57% of people are unaware that Pneumococcal disease is vaccine preventable.2 Under the National (PPV23) Immunisation Programme, the pneumococcal vaccine is free if you’re over 65 or in an at-risk group.3

WATCH AND LEARN

Watch and learn about Pneumo or Pneumococcal disease including a video with Dr. Gary Stack who talks about the National Pneumococcal PPV23 Immunisation Programme.

PNEUMO INFECTION CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS LIKE SINUS, EAR, LUNG, BLOOD AND BRAIN INFECTIONS.1,3

SINUSITIS
(sinus infection)
OTITIS MEDIA
(ear infection)
PNEUMONIA
(lung infection)
BACTAREMIA
(blood infection)
MENINGITIS
(brain infection)

INVASIVE PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE IS A VERY SERIOUS ILLNESS. OF THOSE WHO DEVELOP AN INVASIVE INFECTION1

HOW DO YOU GET PNEUMO?

Like the common cold, pneumococcal disease is spread by close contact through coughing and sneezing.1,3 Pneumo is caused by a common bacterium, Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can attack different parts of the body.1

People can carry the pneumo bug in their nose and throat without being sick and can easily spread the bacteria to others.1

This can cause many types of illnesses that range from mild to very severe.1 When pneumococcal bacteria spreads from the nose and throat to ears or sinuses, it generally causes mild infections.1 When it spreads into other parts of the body, it can lead to severe health problems like pneumonia and meningitis.1

ARE YOU AT RISK?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A PNEUMO INFECTION?

If the pneumococcal bacteria infect the lungs, they can cause pneumonia.1,3 When they invade the blood stream, they cause bacteraemia and when they invade the brain, they cause meningitis.1,3 Pneumococcal disease is a very serious disease.4
It is a major cause of pneumonia in communities throughout Ireland and also causes3:

  • Sinusitis
  • Osteomyelitis (inflammation of a bone)
  • Bronchitis
  • Ear infection
  • Blood stream infection (Bacteraemia)

DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE AT-RISK OF PNEUMO?

Everyone is at risk of getting pneumococcal disease but the biggest risk factor is age1 with older people and very young people most at risk from infection. Conditions and other factors that also increase the risk for invasive pneumococcal disease include diabetes, asthma, chronic heart disease, a weakened immune system and patients receiving chemotherapy. 3

PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE CAN BE PREVENTED BY VACCINATION

Over the years, Streptococcus pneumoniae has become resistant to many medications making the treatment of pneumococcal infections much more difficult. Prevention of disease through our National Immunisation Programmes is more important than ever.1,3

VACCINATION IS RECOMMENDED FOR THOSE AT RISK AS PART OF THE NATIONAL IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME

Pneumococcal disease is very serious. Those in the following at risk groups should be vaccinated with Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPV23)3,4

EVERYBODY AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

ALSO THOSE AGED OVER 2 YEARS WITH:

  • Diabetes
  • Chronic lung, heart, liver, or kidney disease
  • Chronic neurological disease
  • Children aged over 2 years and under 5 years of age with a history of invasive pneumococcal disease
  • Coeliac disease
  • Down Syndrome
  • Cochlear implants or are about to get cochlear implants
  • Immune deficiency because of a disease or treatment, including cancer patients
  • HIV infection
  • Absent spleen or a non-functioning spleen
  • CSF leaks, either congenital or complicating skull fractures or neurosurgery
  • Intracranial shunt.

PPV23 vaccination is not recommended for healthy children and adults as they are at low risk of pneumococcal disease3,4

PROTECT YOURSELF

KNOW HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST PNEUMO IN LATER LIFE WHEN YOU ARE MOST AT RISK.

HOW DO I PROTECT MYSELF AGAINST PNEUMO?

Pneumococcal vaccines which can help protect certain populations against Pneumococcal disease are available through the National (PPV23) Immunisation Programme.3,4

The vaccine is free of charge for those for whom it is officially recommended such as people over the age of 65 and in identified at-risk groups, such as those with diabetes, heart disease or respiratory conditions.3

Outside the childhood immunisation programme, pneumococcal vaccination is usually a single vaccination for those at-risk,

but re-vaccination may be required for some people in certain at-risk groups.3,4

The vaccine can be received when getting your annual flu vaccination or any other time that you visit your doctor’s surgery.3,4

Know Pneumo and find out more about pneumococcal disease, speak to your doctor or pharmacist today and ask how you can protect yourself from Pneumo.

RESOURCES

LINKS

KNOW PNEUMO SOCIAL MEDIA

YOutube Channel

REFERENCES

  1. https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/pcischedule/vpds/pneumococcal (Accessed September 2022)
  2. MSD Data on File 2021. The research was commissioned by MSD Ireland and carried out by Behaviour and Attitudes on a sample population of 500 adults in Ireland.
  3. http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/adult/pneumo (Accessed September 2022)
  4. https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/othervaccines/pneumo (Accessed September 2022)

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