04/09/2026
Why is it important?
🫁 Helps prevent serious pneumonia caused by pneumococcal bacteria.
🛡️ Reduces the risk of serious complications, including bloodstream infections and meningitis.
👶 Important for young children — routine pneumococcal vaccination is part of the UK childhood programme.
👵 Particularly important for older adults — in England, routine vaccination is offered from age 65.
❤️ Important for people at increased risk, including those with certain long-term heart or lung conditions, diabetes, kidney disease or weakened immunity.
❄️ Winter is a good time to think about protection, although pneumococcal disease isn't exclusively a winter illness.