Pneumococcal infections are often serious and sometimes fatal conditions caused by the bacterium, Streptococcus pneumoniae or 'the pneumo bug'. Pneumococcal disease can affect any age group but is most common in the elderly, babies and young children.

In the elderly, the pneumo bug is a frequent cause of lung infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. In babies and young children, it is a cause of common childhood illnesses, such as ear infections, and also of more severe, life-threatening diseases, such as meningitis, septicaemia (blood poisoning), and pneumococcal pneumonia.

It is estimated that each year in the UK, approximately 50 children under the age of five years die from serious pneumococcal infection. Pneumococcal meningitis is the second most common form of bacterial meningitis in the UK. One in five children suffering from pneumococcal meningitis will die, while half of those who survive are left with some form of permanent disability, including brain damage, epilepsy and deafness.

It is estimated that 1 out of every 200 children in the UK are hospitalised before their 5th birthday due to pneumococcal pneumonia.

Vaccines are available to reduce the risk of pneumococcal disease in children and adults. The Department of Health recommends routine immunisation of children under 2 years and adults aged 65 years and over. Those aged 2-65 years who are considered to be at risk due to underlying medical conditions should also be vaccinated against pneumococcal disease. Full details of these recommendations and appropriate vaccines are available at:

www.immunisation.nhs.uk

and

www.dh.gov.uk/