Pneumococcal disease

What is pneumococcal disease?

Pneumococcal disease is a very serious infection caused by bacteria that can attack different parts of the body.

How is pneumococcal disease spread?

Pneumococcal infection is spread from person to person through coughing, sneezing and close face-to-face contact. It can also be spread by sharing saliva. It is best not to share items such as food, cups, straws or water bottles with someone who is infected.

What are the symptoms of pneumococcal disease?

Symptoms can include a cough with mucus (which may appear rusty or green and tinged with blood), fever, fast breathing and heart rate, chest pain that often feels worse when coughing or breathing in, and feeling very tired or weak.

What are the risks of pneumococcal disease?

Pneumococcal disease can cause serious and life-threatening conditions, including infection of the lungs (pneumonia), swelling of the brain lining (meningitis) which can lead to deafness, brain damage and death, and blood infection (septicemia).

Complications occur more often in children younger than two years of age, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Children in childcare settings are at greater risk because of shared toys and frequent hand-to-mouth contact.

How can I prevent getting pneumococcal?

The best way to not get pneumococcal disease to get immunized.

It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get the disease. When you get immunized you help protect others as well.

Get immunized against pneumococcal disease by making an appointment with your doctor, pharmacist (for those 5 years and older) or Public Health.

Learn where to get immunized and how to book an appointment