Today (12 November 2020) is World Pneumonia Day. Bacteria which cause pneumonia can also lead to pneumococcal meningitis and sepsis, which can be fatal.
Pneumococcal meningitis is a life threatening disease caused by pneumococcal bacteria
(Streptococcus pneumonia) that leaves up to half of survivors with long term after effects as severe as deafness, speech and language problems, epilepsy and intellectual impairment.
Data from Meningitis Research Foundation’s
Meningitis Progress Tracker indicates that there are over 400,000 cases of pneumococcal meningitis around the world each year, and over 42,000 deaths. Many of these deaths could be prevented through
vaccination.
Around ¾ of countries currently include pneumococcal vaccine as part of their routine immunisation programme, but this still leaves millions of people without access to safe and effective vaccines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) led roadmap to
Defeat Meningitis by 2030 calls for more countries to introduce the pneumococcal vaccine, as well as increasing protection for other types of meningitis, which will help defeat meningitis wherever it exists. The roadmap also calls for improved diagnosis, treatment, surveillance, aftercare and advocacy efoorts.
The Meningitis Research Foundation
Support Service is here for anyone impacted by pneumococcal meningitis, or anyone with questions/concerns. Please call 080 8800 3344, email
helpline@meningitis.org, or use the Live Chat functionality on site (Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm).