Protect Your Senior Family Members from Pneumonia – Stay Vigilant!

Seniors at a high risk of contracting pneumococcal infections

Statistics indicate that those aged 65 or above are 10 times more likely to be hospitalised due to pneumococcal pneumonia than people aged 18-49. Seniors aged 65 or above account for 90% of pneumonia-related death. 

Pneumococcus is a bacterium that commonly inhabits the upper respiratory tract of humans, even in those who are generally healthy. The bacteria can spread directly through droplets from coughs or sneezes, oral contact with an infected person, or indirectly through contact with objects contaminated by respiratory secretions. Seniors, who have weakened immune systems due to ageing, are more vulnerable to bacterial infections like pneumococcus. When the bacteria invade different sites such as the lungs or bloodstream, it can lead to severe conditions including meningitis and bacteraemia. Elderly patients with chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, heart disease and diabetes are at an even higher risk for pneumococcal pneumonia.

Therefore, the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) under the Centre for Health Protection suggests that every person aged above 65 should be vaccinated against pneumococcal infection.

Symptoms and sequelae of pneumococcal infection

When pneumococcus invades the lungs, it causes the inflammation and build-up of fluids in some alveoli (air sacs in the lungs), causing symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia including chest pain, coughing, trouble breathing, fever, chills, excess sweating, weakness and persistent and worsened coughing with phlegm.

Pneumococcal pneumonia can interfere with the patient’s daily life for up to several weeks. The inflammation and fluid build-up in part of the lungs cause symptoms like shortness of breath and trouble breathing, which may worsen to a point that requires hospitalisation, or even become life-threatening.

Pneumococcus can also lead to other diseases and even complications in severe cases:

Otitis media: trigger fever, ear pain or hearing loss

Meningitis: can lead to prolonged hearing and vision loss, impaired brain function, limb disability and even death

Bacteraemia and sepsis: the bacteria may invade the bloodstream and other body parts, leading to high heart rate, loss of consciousness and even death

Pneumonia: inflammation and fluid build-up in the lungs can lead to trouble breathing and even death

Vaccination can protect seniors and their family members

According to research findings, the pneumococcal vaccine can reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death in seniors. SCVPD advises children aged below 2 to receive pneumococcal vaccination according to the schedule of the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme. Infants should receive two primary doses at 2 and 4 months of age and receive a booster dose at 12 months. Seniors aged above 65 without high-risk conditions are also advised to receive a single dose of PCV13 or 23vPPV.

High-risk conditions include:

1. History of invasive pneumococcal disease;

 Immunocompromised states:

Asplenia, HIV /AIDS, primary immunodeficiency

Immunodeficiencies related to malignancies and transplantation

Immunodeficiencies related to the use of immunosuppressive drugs / systemic steroid

2. Chronic disease

Chronic cardiac, pulmonary, liver or renal disease

Diabetes mellitus or CSF leakage

3. With cochlear implants

The risk of pneumococcal infection varies from person to person due to age and health conditions. People with high-risk conditions can also receive vaccination as long as they have discussed with their doctors on the most appropriate vaccination regimen.

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