Pneumococcal disease still a major cause of death and illness in Europe

Despite good access to effective antibiotics in Europe, Pneumococcal disease is still a major cause of disease and death in both developing and developed countries.

On World Pneumonia Day on 12th November 2015, Dr Roller-Wirnsberger, President of the Austrian Society of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology noted that hospitalisation due to infectious diseases such as pneumococcal causes 1 year mortality after hospitalisation, 30% functional decline, higher readmission rates, and higher rates of home health use.

She proceeded that the best way to prevent hospitalisation due to pneumococcal is to get vaccinated.