Pneumococcal Disease

Why vaccinate adults against pneumococcal disease?

• In the US, 85 percent of pneumococcal disease cases are in adults.
• More than 50,000 cases of pneumococcal bacteremia occur in the US each year.  The case-fatality rate of bacteremia among adults is 15-20 percent.
• As many as 175,000 people are hospitalized due to pneumococcal pneumonia in the US each year. The case-fatality rate of pneumococcal pneumonia is 5-7 percent.
• Approximately 3,000 to 6,000 cases of pneumococcal meningitis occur each year in the US.  The case-fatality rate of pneumococcal meningitis among adults is 16-37 percent.
• Pneumococcal disease has high associated morbidity  Pneumococcal meningitis can cause hearing loss, seizures, blindness, and paralysis.  Concurrent cardiac events are common among patients hospitalized with pneumococcal pneumonia.

Which adults need pneumococcal vaccination?

CDC currently recommends pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) for:

• All adults age 65 and older
• Adults age 19 through 64 years lung, heart, liver, or kidney disease; asthma; diabetes; alcoholism; immuniocompromising conditions; cancer; a damaged or missing spleen; cochlear implants; or CSF leaks
• Adults living in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities
• All adults who smoke cigarettes

Note: A 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was recently approved by the FDA for use in adults age 50 years and older. CDC has not yet provided guidance for use of PCV13 in adults.

Did you know...
pneumococcal disease can cause meningitis, pneumonia, or a blood infection?

What happens when someone gets pneumococcal disease?

• Pneumococcal disease can cause pneumonia, meningitis, or blood infection.
• People with pneumococcal disease may have a combination of high fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, stiff neck, disorientation, and sensitivity to light.

Why is pneumococcal vaccine important?

• In its worst forms, meningitis and blood infection, pneumococcal disease kills 15 to 37 percent of people infected.
• The vaccine protects against the bacteria responsible for 75 percent of all pneumococcal meningitis and blood infection cases in adults.

FAQ: I was told to get both influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. Can I get them at the same time?
 Yes. These vaccines can be given at the same time, but in different arms. In fact, pneumococcal disease can be a complication of influenza, so getting both vaccines is a smart choice. For most adults, the pneumococcal vaccine is a one-time vaccine.