Some 400,000 people over the age of 65 are at risk of contracting the potentially fatal bug, pneumococcal disease, yet almost two in three of these are unaware that the disease can be life threatening, a new awareness campaign has highlighted.

Pneumococcal disease is caused by a common bacterium, Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can attack different parts of the body. If the pneumococcal bacteria infect the lungs, they can cause pneumonia. When they invade the blood stream, they can cause septicaemia (sepsis) and when they invade the brain, they can cause meningitis.

The pneumococcal vaccine is given as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule at two, six and 12 months. However, the HSE also recommends that at-risk groups get vaccinated, including those over the age of 65 and those with chronic conditions such as diabetes. These at-risk groups usually only require a single vaccine.

Despite the risks, awareness of the disease and the available vaccine remains low.

Research carried out for the campaign revealed that just 8% of people over the age of 65 can say for certain whether they have been vaccinated, with 54% unsure whether they have received the vaccine.

Some 64% of older people are unaware that pneumococcal disease can be life threatening.

"Pneumococcal disease can have very serious ramifications and it is important that awareness increases. Of those who become infected with pneumo and who go on to develop invasive disease, one in four will develop pneumonia, one in four will develop meningitis, and one in 10 will die," explained consultant endocrinologist at Connolly Hospital, Prof Seamus Sreenan.

As part of the awareness campaign, five patient organisations have come together to urge those at risk to get themselves vaccinated. They are Age Action Ireland, the Asthma Society of Ireland, Diabetes Ireland, the Meningitis Research Foundation and the Irish Patients' Association.

"Contracting pneumococcal disease is an added concern every winter for people with diabetes, especially for younger children and those over 65 years of age. Contracting pneumococcal disease challenges health but also upsets glyceamic control for an extended period further challenging health. We hope that by lending our voice to this campaign we can increase awareness among our community," commented Diabetes Ireland CEO, Kieran O'Leary.

Age Action Ireland also noted that some 400,000 people over the age of 65 are at risk, while the Asthma Society pointed out that around 470,000 people in Ireland have asthma and they are ‘particularly at risk of contracting pneumo'.

The pneumo bug is spread in a similar way to the common cold - through close contact, coughing and sneezing. For more information on the illness and its vaccine, click here