More effective pneumococcal vaccine to protect against pneumonia
Around half of children and 3-4% of adults who may be completely healthy are carriers of pneumococcal bacteria. These bacteria can cause dangerous diseases, often including pneumonia. On World Pneumonia Day, health insurance funds remind people at risk to get the 20-valent pneumococcal vaccine free of charge from October onwards, which offers even more protection than the 13-valent vaccine used until now.
The number of cases of pneumococcal disease in the country is increasing. According to the National Public Health Centre, 88 cases of pneumococcal disease were registered in 2022, 137 in 2023 and 164 in the first 8 months of the current year.
Diseases such as pneumonia, sinusitis, ear infections or even blood infections (sepsis) are often caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is also found in the nasopharynx of healthy people and is spread through airborne droplets. However, pneumonia caused by this bacterium and its severe and sometimes fatal complications, as well as other diseases that are particularly dangerous for chronically ill and elderly people of all ages, can be prevented by the pneumococcal vaccine.
“Pneumococcal vaccine has been available in Lithuania for almost a decade, using the vaccine purchased by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund. In September, the National Health Insurance Fund purchased a vaccine with a larger number of different pneumococcal serotypes. The new 20-valent vaccine with higher protection cost more than EUR 2 million. The quantity purchased should be sufficient for three years,” says Agnė Grušeckienė, Adviser of the Centrally Procured Pharmaceuticals Division of the National Health Insurance Fund under the Ministry of Health.
According to her, the once-in-a-lifetime free pneumococcal vaccine is given to people who are most at risk of catching pneumococcal disease and developing complications. These include children aged 2 years and above with serious chronic illnesses and adults included in the list of at-risk groups. For example, dialysis patients, cancer patients, rheumatic diseases, and people aged 75 and above.
“It is important to note that the new 20-valent pneumococcal vaccine is given to people at risk who have not yet been vaccinated with a different vaccine at a different valence free of charge. For example, if a person has previously been vaccinated with the 13-valent vaccine at his/her own expense and currently belongs to at least one of the at-risk groups, he/she can be vaccinated with the 20-valent vaccine free of charge. A single vaccination for pneumococcal infection provides lifelong immunity against the pneumococcal pathogens against which the person was vaccinated, so there is no need for revaccination,” explains A. Grušeckienė.
People at risk of pneumococcal disease must apply for a free pneumococcal vaccination at the health facility where they are registered. People not at risk can get the vaccine at their own expense.
The flu is already spreading in the country, with incidence usually peaking in December and February, and pneumonia is also a common complication of the flu. People at risk are therefore urged to contact their personal health care provider to get a free flu vaccination. The most appropriate vaccination schedule should be discussed with a family doctor.
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Last updated: 28-11-2024
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