Pneumococcal disease  is a serious disease that causes much sickness and death.  In fact, pneumococcal disease kills more people in the United States each year than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined.

In adults, pneumococcal pneumonia is often characterized by sudden onset of illness with symptoms including shaking chills, fever, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, pain in the chest that is worsened by breathing deeply, and a productive cough.  In infants and young children, signs and symptoms may not be specific, and may include fever, cough, rapid breathing or grunting.

Nationally there are more than 40,000 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease each year and approximately one-third of these cases occur in people 65 and older.  About half of the 5,500 annual deaths from invasive pneumococcal disease occur in the elderly.  In Arizona, there are about 1,100 deaths each year related to influenza and pneumonia.

Pneumococcal vaccines, also known as pneumonia shots, can significantly reduce secondary infections and reduce illness and death from influenza and pneumonia.

Pneumococcal vaccine is routinely recommended for people who are at increased risk from pneumococcal disease, including:

• All adults 65 years of age and older 
• Immunocompromised persons ≥ 2 years of age (includes those with chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, alcoholism, cirrhosis, and cerebrospinal fluid leak; anatomic or functional asplenia; immunocompromised from either disease, chemotherapy, or steroid use; HIV infection; and certain environments or setting with increased risk).
• All children <2 years of age

More detailed information can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/diseases/pneumo/default.htm

Currently, 65% of Arizonans 65 years of age and older have received pneumococcal vaccine, and approximately 72% of Arizona’s children under 2 years of age have received the pneumococcal vaccine.  The National and Arizona Immunization coverage goal for adults 65 years of age and over and children under 2 years of age is 90%.