The New York State Department of Health reminds New Yorkers, specifically individuals 50 and over, to get the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) as bacterial infections have increased.
“This vaccine protects against pneumococcal disease which can lead to serious illnesses like pneumonia, bacterial meningitis and blood infections," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “With the holidays approaching, we want residents enjoying time with loved ones, not fighting an illness.”
Pneumococcal disease is caused by bacteria and can lead to pneumonia, arthritis, ear infections, endocarditis, invasive blood (bacteremia), or brain infections. It can also infect and inflame the coverings of the brain and spinal cord. Pneumococcal disease causes moderate to severe illness and can sometimes lead to death.
Anyone can get pneumococcal disease. Some people are at higher risk. This disease occurs more often if a person smokes or has a weak immune system, chronic heart, lung, liver and kidney disease, cochlear implants, cerebrospinal fluid leak, or no spleen.
Symptoms can include fever and chills, chest pain, cough, difficulty breathing, weakness and feeling very ill, stiff neck, ear pain and headaches.
The best way to prevent this disease is to be vaccinated.
- Children should be vaccinated with four doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15 or PCV20) at two four, six months and 12 to 15 months of age.
- Adults 50 years and older should be vaccinated with the PCV15, PCV20 or PCV21. If PCV15 is used this should be followed by one dose of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) vaccine at least one year after the PCV15 dose if not previously administered.
- Adults who are 19 to 64 years of age with certain health risks should be vaccinated. These risks include diabetes, smoking, alcoholism, asthma, chronic heart, liver, lung, or kidney disease, cochlear implant, sickle cell disease, a spleen that doesn't work, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, solid organ transplant, cancer or other diseases that affect the immune system.
More information about pneumococcal disease can be found here.