Up to 800 000 patients received their first dose of pneumococcal vaccine in 2005 and these patients are now due for their 5 year booster. Act now to identify and vaccinate all eligible patients aged over 70years before winter. The National Pneumococcal Vaccination Program for Older Australians commenced in January 2005 and provides free pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax23®) to adults aged 65 years or older. People aged 65 years or over should discuss vaccination with their doctor or health care provider.
Adults aged 65 years or over are at higher risk of contracting pneumococcal disease than the rest of the population, with the majority of deaths from this disease occurring in this age group.
2 doses of vaccine are given, with the second dose given 5 years after the first dose. For technical information or information about vaccines, refer to the Pneumococcal section of the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition 2008 (NHMRC).
Reference:
www.racgp.org.au/ff/21
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