Pneumococcal vaccination

In its official weekly bulletin, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has informed in the issue of 22 May 2017 that the number of pneumococcal diseases in Switzerland has increased by around 23 percent between 2015 and 2017 in a three-year comparison.

Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae that lives in the nasopharynx space of many healthy people without causing a disease. Therefore, pneumococci can be transmitted by both healthy carriers as well as individuals who have experienced pneumococcal disease.

Children under two years and persons over 65 years are particularly at increased risk for pneumococcal disease. A vaccination against pneumococci protects from severe diseases such as meningitis, blood poisoning, pneumonia and inflammation of the middle ear. Three doses of the vaccine are needed for a good protection. These can be administered at the age of 2, 4 and 12 months.

Pneumococcal vaccination has been recommended in Switzerland since 2011 for all children under 5 years of age. The costs for vaccination are covered by compulsory healthcare insurance.

If you have any further questions, please contact your physician.