Pneumococcal

Pneumococcal is a bacterial disease, that comes up in winter and early spring and has a high communicability. The transmission is through direct person to person contact as well as contact through respiratory droplets. This disease is a human only pathogen, there are no animal or insect reservoir meaning that it can be eradicated through the use of vaccinations and herd immunity (2).

The original pneumococcal vaccine was polysaccaride and contained 23 different strains, and was 60-76% effective in preventing invasive disease though there was no antibody response in children under the age of two years old. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was approved, which contained 13 different strains of the bacteria. The vaccine is more than 90% effective in preventing invasive disease in young children. It was found to be 45% effective in preventing non bacterimic infections in adults 65 years or older and 75% effective in preventing invasive disease within the same age group (2).

This disease does not require a booster shot though it may be recommended in people over the age of 65 years old, or those who have lung conditions. The bacteria that causes pneumococcal is not found in soil or on objects, only within the throat cells of human beings. With enough diligence and participation this disease could be easily eradicated (2).

(1)

¹Person. (2016, May 24). Doctors recommend pneumococcal vaccine for some patients. Retrieved May 7, 2020, from https://wcyb.com/news/local/doctors-recommend-pneumococcal-vaccine-for-some-patients

²Pinkbook. (2019, April 15). Retrieved May 7, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html