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Vienna – Last year, Austria experienced significantly more severe pneumococcal disease than the year before. This is the result of a statement from the Pfizer pharmaceutical company in reference to the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES).
In 2017, a total of 545 invasive pneumococcal diseases were reported to the National Reference Center for these diseases. This was the highest number of cases recorded up to here. In 2016, there were 438 cases. Thirty-four people died of invasive pneumococcal infection in Austria last year. A total of 40 different pneumococcal strains have been identified as the cause of the diseases. However, most cases are attributed to some strains
The seriously affected elderly
"The good news is that most pneumococcal strains distributed in Austria are covered by the vaccines available today. who gets vaccinated against pneumococci reduces the risk of serious diseases such as pneumonia, blood poisoning or meningitis, "said Rudolf Schmitzberger, head of the immunization department of the Austrian Medical Association. immunization for children and adults is the best protection
Older people most commonly affected by invasive pneumococcal disease Most cases occurred in the over 80 age group (24.7 cases / 100 000 people), followed by 75-79 year olds (20.4 cases / 100 000 people) and 65-74 year olds (14.4 cases) / 100 000. Children are also at risk, especially less than five years old. In this age group, 28 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease were recorded last year. The vaccine would have protected most of the disease. (APA)
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