How effective is pneumococcal vaccination for pneumonia?

Pneumococcus is a bacterium that can cause lung infection and other serious illnesses. Vaccination trains the immune system to recognise selected pneumococcal types, so protection is specific rather than universal. A vaccinated person can still develop pneumonia from another bacterium, a virus or a fungus. Protection may be especially relevant when age, chronic illness or immune problems increase the consequences of respiratory infection.

Ask a clinician whether the vaccine is recommended for your age, health conditions, previous doses and local schedule. Keep vaccination records available and discuss pregnancy, immune treatment or a previous vaccine reaction before receiving it. Vaccination complements hand hygiene and management of long-term conditions. If you already have cough, fever, chest pain or breathlessness, seek assessment rather than waiting for vaccination to act. See Pneumococcal Vaccination for more detail.

Get emergency help for severe breathing difficulty, blue or grey lips, new confusion, fainting or chest pain that is severe or worsening. Prompt medical review is needed for fever with breathlessness, a cough producing blood, marked weakness or symptoms that are getting worse. Pneumonia can require examination, oxygen checks and treatment even when someone has been vaccinated. Read about Pneumonia for related symptoms.

Ask which pneumococcal vaccine and schedule fit your medical history, whether a previous dose changes today’s plan, and what side effects should prompt advice. Ask how vaccination fits with other respiratory vaccines and how to respond if pneumonia symptoms develop.