Pneumococcal
Pneumococcal meningitis is the second most common form of bacterial meningitis in the UK. It is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae which can also cause ear infections and pneumonia. Although pneumococcal meningitis is less common than meningococcal meningitis, it is a lot more life-threatening.
One in six children who contract pneumococcal meningitis will die and half of those who survive will be left with severe disabilities such as deafness, brain damage and seizures. Pneumococcal meningitis can also be accompanied by septicaemia, the blood-poisoning form of the disease.
Young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of contracting pneumococcal disease.
There is currently a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that protects against 13 strains of pneumococcal bacteria in the Childhood Immunisation Programme in the UK.
PneumoAware
Meningitis UK is part of the working group which has come together to produce a report called PneumoAware to raise awareness of pneumococcal disease and increase vaccine uptake, targeting in particular public health and political audiences. For more information, please visit the PneumoAware website (opens in a new window).
Meningitis UK supports the Pneuomococcal Awareness Council of Experts
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