People with low resistance are especially at risk for these deadly infections, at least half of which can be prevented by a simple, safe vaccine. But only 43 percent of Texans over 65 years old needing vaccination have taken advantage of this protection. I urge everyone who is 65 or older or who have certain health problems to get this safe vaccination. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor. TDH is working in partnership with other agencies to ensure the availability and accessibility of the vaccine to the public.
Pneumococcal disease is a serious disease that causes much sickness and death.
In fact, pneumococcal disease kills more people in the United States each year than all other vaccine-preventable disease combined. Anyone can get pneumococcal disease, but some people are at greater risk for the disease. These include people 65 and older, the very young, and people with special health problems such as alcoholism, heart or lung disease, kidney failure, diabetes, HIV infection or certain types of cancer. About one out of every 20 people who get pneumococcal pneumonia dies from it, as do about two out of 10 people who get bacteremia, and three out of 10 who get meningitis. People with the special health problems mentioned above are even more likely to die from the disease.