Patient/caregiver was instructed regarding pneumococcal vaccination as follows:
- Pneumococcal vaccines are given to protect against many types of pneumococcal bacteria that can cause a wide variety of severe illnesses, such as, sepsis, bacteremia, middle ear infection, pneumonia, and meningitis.
- Pneumococcal bacteria reside in individuals’ nose and throat and can be carried by some individuals without showing symptoms of illness. The intact lining of respiratory passages in the throat and lungs contribute to preventing access to the pneumococcal bacterium and avoid presentation with severe disease symptoms. But these individuals can contribute to spread of bacteria though to other vulnerable individuals, who can present with signs and symptoms of severe pneumococcal illness.
- In some individuals with damaged protective lining of respiratory passages in the throat and lungs, secondary to factors like other infections, inflammation, smoking, etc., the bacteria in the nose and throat can spread to other parts of the body, such as, nasal sinuses and/or ears, causing mild sinusitis and/or ear infections.
- In severe cases, the bacteria in the nose and throat can enter the blood stream, resulting in bacteremia and sepsis. The bacteria, through the blood stream, can spread to distant body sites, such as, lungs and meninges (protective covers around the brain & spinal cord), resulting in life-threatening pneumonia and meningitis.
- Individuals with pneumonia can develop high fever, cough, rapid & difficult breathing leading to debility and in severe cases, even mortality. Individuals with meningitis can present with severe fever, rash, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, confusion, dizziness, and seizures.
- Pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for all children younger than 2 years of age and all adults 65 years and older.
- Pneumococcal vaccines contribute to development of immune response by generating antibodies in the recipient. These antibodies generated protect against infection with many pneumococcal bacteria, thus preventing severe life-threatening infections.
