Pneumococcal infections

Symptoms will vary, depending on the type of infection you have. Common symptoms include: 

• Fever 

• Chills, sweats 

• Aches and pains 

• Headache 

• Feeling unwell 

• Ear infection 

• Sinusitis 

• Pneumonia 

• Meningitis (infection of the brain lining) 

• Blood infection (bacteremia) 

• Becoming deaf (deafness) 

• Permanent brain damage 

• Death 

• Anyone can get pneumococcal disease.  

• Young children (under 5 years old) and older adults (over 65 years old) are at increased risk, compared to other age groups.  

People who have weakened immune systems are at risk.  

Certain medical conditions, habits, and life circumstances increase the risk of serious pneumococcal infection, including: 

• Diabetes 

• Severe asthma 

• Kidney disease 

• Heart disease 

• Lung disease 

• Liver disease 

• Chronic CSF (cerebrospinal fluid discharge, also known as cerebrospinal fluid leak) 

• Wearing a type of hearing aid called a cochlear implant 

• Having trouble swallowing because of certain conditions including cognitive disorders, spinal cord injury, convulsive disorder caused by epilepsy or brain trauma, neuromuscular disorders) 

• Alcoholism 

• Smoking cigarettes 

• Using drugs 

• Homelessness 

The bacteria that cause pneumococcal infections enters the body through the nose and mouth. People can carry these bacteria in their nose and throat without getting sick. They can potentially give the infection to someone else.  

An infection can spread the same way as a cold or flu, through direct or indirect contact. 

Direct contact

• When someone coughs or sneezes, they project tiny droplets of fluid into the air that people around them may breathe in. 

Indirect contact

• Someone who is infected may transfer droplets of fluid to surfaces. A person who touches those surfaces, and then touches their mouth or nose may breathe in the infected droplets.  

• Immunization (vaccination) is the best protection against serious pneumococcal infections, and its complications.  

• Prevnar-20 is an updated vaccine for pneumococcal infections that’s now available in Eeyou Istchee.  

We recommend the following groups of people get the Prevnar-20 vaccine: 

• All children, youth and adults aged 2 months and older to 49 years who have a weakened immune system, or spleen problems. 

• All adults (18 and over) with the medical conditions described in section Who is at risk for these infections? 

• All adults over the age of 50 years in Eeyou Istchee. 

• If you are an adult 18 and older and were previously vaccinated with a vaccine called Pneumovax-23, we recommend you get a dose of Prevnar-20 to boost protection against infections. 

• You can get the the Prevnar-20 vaccine at least 1 year after your Pneumovax-23. 

• Talk to your nurse or doctor at the CMC to see whether you have received all vaccines recommended for you.  

Pneumococcal vaccines are safe. In most cases, they don’t cause any reaction. After getting vaccinated, some common side effects can include: 

• Pain, redness and/or swelling at the injection site 

• Fever 

• Headache 

• Muscle aches 

Side effects are usually mild, and temporary.