April 25, 2024 is the 38th "National Child Immunization Publicity Day" in mainland China, and the theme of this year's publicity is "Joint Action to Vaccinate and Escort the Whole Life Cycle".
The threat of pneumococcus
Moments lurk in our lives
This germ
It can cause a range of serious infectious diseases
Especially for children and the elderly
It is more dangerous
Luckily
By vaccination against pneumococcus
It is effective in preventing these diseases
so
What exactly is pneumococcus?
How do I get the vaccine?
This article will answer them one by one
Vaccination, which saves countless lives, is recognized as one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies pneumococcal disease as requiring "very high priority" vaccine prevention.
The composition of the lungs can be likened to a giant tree that grows upside down in the body. Among them, the alveoli are equivalent to leaves, the bronchi at all levels are equivalent to the trunk of trees, and the interstitium is equivalent to soil and sunlight.
What is pneumococcal disease?
Pneumococcus is a conditionally pathogenic bacterium, widely distributed in nature, with a high proportion of healthy people, often colonized in the human nasopharynx, and is usually not pathogenic.
When the body's resistance is weakened, respiratory viral infections such as influenza, malnutrition or old age and infirmity, pneumococci can take advantage of the weakness and cause a series of pneumococcal diseases, which are common in children, the elderly and people with underlying diseases.
What is the disease burden of pneumococcal disease?
Pneumococcal disease is one of the most serious public health problems in the world, and before the vaccine was used, pneumococcal disease was a common disease in children aged < 5 years, the elderly aged > 65 years, and people with underlying medical conditions, and it was also an important cause of death in these people. Pneumococcus is the main pathogen that causes serious diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia in children, and is also a common cause of acute otitis media and sinusitis. In 2017, pneumococcal infections in children aged 5 years < years were estimated to have caused 380,900 deaths worldwide. Pneumococcal pneumonia is also the most common clinical manifestation of pneumonia in adults, and in Europe and the United States, about 30%~50% of hospitalized cases of community-acquired pneumonia in adults are related to pneumococcal infection.
How is pneumococcus transmitted?
Pneumococci are transmitted from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets or by colonizing bacteria that cause autologous infection. The risk of pneumococcal infection varies greatly with different factors such as age, underlying diseases, and living environment. Children and older people are at relatively high risk of infection.
How can pneumococcal disease be prevented?
(1) Get vaccinated in time
After vaccination, the body can cope more quickly and effectively when a child is infected with pneumococcus, thereby reducing the risk of pneumonia and reducing the severity of the disease. At the same time, vaccination against measles and influenza has a positive effect on the prevention of pneumococcal infection.
(2) Practice good hygiene
Pay attention to cold and warmth, ensure that the environment is clean and ventilated, and you can choose to wear a mask in public indoor places. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, maintain a safe social distance from others, wash your hands frequently, and avoid contact with people with respiratory diseases as much as possible.
(3) Improve immunity
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, ensuring adequate sunlight and sleep, and adequate nutrition are the keys to improving children's natural defense function, and it is recommended to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months after birth to maintain a happy mood and avoid activities in crowded public places during epidemic periods to reduce the risk of respiratory infections.
How is the pneumococcal vaccine administered?
Pneumococcal vaccine is a non-immunization program vaccine, which is voluntary, self-paying. At present, 13-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine is available in mainland China for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine can be used for people over 2 years of age. The number of doses and the interval between doses vary depending on the type of vaccine and age, so you can consult a professional medical institution or vaccination clinic for the specific vaccination plan.
How safe is the pneumococcal vaccine?
As with all medicines, each vaccine must undergo extensive and rigorous testing to ensure its safety. Pneumococcal vaccines have undergone rigorous clinical trials and regulatory review before they are marketed, and the overall safety profile is good. And once a vaccine is available, it must be continuously monitored to ensure that it remains safe. There may be a small number of children who experience mild adverse reactions after vaccination, such as local redness, swelling, pain, fever, etc., but these reactions usually resolve on their own within a few days.
in a word
Get a pneumococcal vaccine
It is an important means of preventing pneumococcal disease
For the health of "one old and one young".
Susceptible people with no contraindications to vaccination
Pneumococcal vaccination should be actively administered
And pay attention to prevention and control measures in daily life
Source/Jiangxi Health