The Oaklands Practice : Pneumococcal Vaccination

<body bgcolor="##F0AECA"> <p><strong>Pneumococcal Vaccination</strong></p> <p> Pneumococcal bacteria can lead to fairly minor diseases such as ear and sinus infections. But it can also lead to serious infections such as pneumonia, life-threatening infection of the blood (including septicaemia), and meningitis. In some cases, pneumococcal meningitis can develop from more minor forms of the infection such as earache.</p> <p>Pneumococcal bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae) are the second biggest cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK and Ireland.</p> <p>The Department of Health recommends that people in certain at-risk groups should be vaccinated against pneumococcal infection. These groups are as follows:</p> People aged 65 years or over<br /> People who have no spleen (i.e. have had a Splenectomy)<br /> People with severe dysfunction of the spleen e.g. homozygous sickle cell disease<br /> People with weakened Immune Systems e.g. HIV infection at any stage, Chronic Leukaemia<br /> People with Chronic Respiratory (Lung) Disease e.g. Asthma, Emphysema, Bronchiectasis<br /> People with Chronic Heart Problems e.g. Ischaemic Heart Disease (Angina, Heart Attack), Congestive Cardiac Failure<br /> People with Chronic Liver Disease e.g. Cirrhosis<br /> People with Diabetes<br /> People with Renal (Kidney) Disease<br /> People with Cochlear Implants<br /> <p>Pneumococcal vaccination is free for those people in the above-mentioned at-risk groups.</p> <p>Patients who are recommended to have pneumococcal vaccination should ring the surgery to make an appointment with the Practice Nurse.</p> <p>For more information about pneumococcal disease and pneumococcal vaccination, visit the <a href="http://www.meningitis.org/disease-info/types-causes/pneumococcal/" target="_blank">Meningitis Research Foundation web site </a></p> <p><i>Source: Department of Health - Immunisation against infectious disease 2006. <a href="http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthprotection/Immunisation/Greenbook/dh_4097254?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=112424&Rendition=Web" target="_blank">Chapter 25: Pneumococcal</a></i></p> <p>Page last updated: 31.01.09</p> <br /> <p><a href="../home/index.htm" target="_top">Home Page</a></p> </body>