What is the Pneumococcal Vaccination?

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection that can cause severe illness and even death. It affects around one in 100 adults in the UK each year and is most common in the autumn and winter months.

Pneumonia is caused by an infection that aggravates the lungs, causing them to become inflamed and swell up with fluid. The most common cause of pneumonia is an infection due to bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus. It can be spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. Unfortunately when your immune system is low (when fighting off a virus such as Flu or Covid-19) your body is particularly vulnerable to contracting Pneumonia and the results can be life limiting.

Symptoms of pneumonia

The symptoms of pneumonia can develop suddenly over 24 to 48 hours, or they may come on more slowly over several days.

Common symptoms of pneumonia include:

• a cough – which may be dry, or produce thick yellow, green, brown or blood-stained mucus (phlegm)
• difficulty breathing – your breathing may be rapid and shallow, and you may feel breathless, even when resting
• rapid heartbeat
• high temperature
• feeling generally unwell
• sweating and shivering
• loss of appetite
• chest pain – which gets worse when breathing or coughing

Less common symptoms include:

• coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
• headaches
• fatigue
• feeling sick or being sick
• wheezing
• joint and muscle pain
• feeling confused and disorientated, particularly in elderly people

The Pneumococcal vaccination service

We offer a private Pneumococcal Vaccination Service that protects against 23 of the most common strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. The key benefits of our Pneumococcal vaccination service are:

• The vaccination enhances the immune response and provides long-lasting protection against pneumococcal pneumonia
• The vaccination can be administered at any time of the year and can help reduce risk for travellers going to countries which have higher levels of pneumococcal infections.
• The vaccination can be given at the same time as other vaccinations, such as the flu vaccination
• People aged 65 and over and those with long term health conditions are eligible for a free NHS pneumonia vaccination, however Pneumonia can affect anyone, if you’re under 65 and haven’t had the Pneumonia vaccine please contact our pharmacist today.

For your Pneumococcal Vaccination, visit your nearest Travel Clinic today. Alternatively, feel free to contact one of our travel experts for more information.