Pneumococcal disease

A summary

What

Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. It can cause severe invasive disease, including meningitis, pneumonia and bacteraemia (similar to meningococcal disease), and non-invasive disease, including otitis media.

Who

Pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for:

  • routine vaccination in infants and children
  • non-Indigenous adults aged ≥70 years
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged ≥50 years
  • children, adolescents and adults with risk conditions for pneumococcal disease

How

Pneumococcal vaccines available in Australia are (13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) and (23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine). The recommended number and timing of doses, and type of vaccine depend on:

  • the person’s age
  • their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status
  • the state or territory they live in
  • whether they have conditions that increase their risk of pneumococcal disease
  • whether they have received or before

Why

Infants and elderly people have the highest pneumococcal disease burden. Pneumococcal disease disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adults. Pneumococcal disease is more common in people with certain risk conditions.

 

Pneumococcus

 

Personal story

To read Janine’s story of how her son spent 7 days on life support, fighting a disease she had never heard of, please see here.

The vaccine

Pneumococcal vaccines are on the Australian immunisation schedule and are recommended for:

  • routine vaccination in infants and children
  • all adults aged >70 years
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged >50 years
  • children, adolescents and adults with conditions that are associated with an increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease
  • Anyone who wants to protect themselves against pneumococcal disease

The schedule is complex, however, and varies between States and Territories within Australia, so please see your GP or immunisation nurse for specific advice.

Further reading

Page reviewed August 2021.
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