Vaccination against pneumococcus represents an essential prevention mission, in the same way as that for the flu or Covid. By providing daily care to fragile patients, IDELs play a decisive role in the fight against serious respiratory infections, particularly for the most vulnerable populations.
Pneumococcus, a largely underestimated risk
Pneumococcus causes serious respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. Mortality from invasive pneumococcal infections varies from 10% to 30% depending on studies and increases with age and the presence of comorbidities.
In France, pneumococci are the leading cause of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and bacterial meningitis in adults.
These infections are particularly dangerous for the elderly, the immunocompromised, patients with chronic pathologies (pulmonary, diabetes, cardiac), and even certain healthy adults.
Health data shows that a significant number of hospitalizations and deaths each year are linked to pneumococcal infections. Unfortunately, this threat often remains underestimated and vaccination coverage insufficient (around 10% for target populations, compared to 48% on average for influenza).
As IDEL, you have the opportunity to raise awareness and protect at-risk patients by encouraging them to receive this essential vaccine.
Vaccination recommendations for pneumococcus
Primary vaccination against pneumococcus is compulsory for all children born from 1is January 2018 (2 injections, two months apart, at the ages of 2 and 4 months followed by a booster dose at the age of 11 months.
The vaccination schedule recommends vaccination against pneumococcus for certain population categories: immunocompromised patients, patients with nephrotic syndrome (heart disease, heart failure, respiratory failure, severe asthma, renal failure, diabetes, etc.).
The HAS recommends vaccination with PCV 20 (Prévenar 20) with a single injection, without the need for a booster at this stage. For those vaccinated for more than 5 years, a booster of PCV 20 is recommended.
These recommendations are often poorly understood by patients, or even by certain caregivers. For an IDEL, this vaccination is part of a global prevention approach at the patient’s home or in the office when carrying out a prevention assessment, for example.
The key role of IDEL in pneumococcal vaccination
- Raise awareness among your patients by explaining the risks of pneumococcal infections and the benefits of vaccination;
- Check vaccination status fragile patients and offer them the vaccine if necessary;
- Reassure about vaccinationvaccine safety and explaining rare side effects;
- Enter vaccination in the DMP of the patient and inform the attending physician to ensure coordinated follow-up.
Patients are often more comfortable asking questions and expressing their fears with their IDEL than in a doctor’s office. This particular trust that we have is a powerful lever for getting public health messages across.
Facilitate access to the vaccine and improve vaccination coverage
Since the publication of Decree No. 2023-736, IDELs have been authorized to prescribe all of the vaccines mentioned in the vaccination schedule for people aged 11 and over according to the recommendations appearing in this same schedule, with the exception of live attenuated vaccines in immunocompromised individuals.
By informing patients that the pneumococcus vaccination can be administered at the same time as the flu vaccination, we also simplify the process and increase the chances that they will accept the two vaccinations necessary for their protection.
Let’s keep in mind that each vaccination carried out is additional protection against severe infection and hospitalization!
Get involved! Through our collective involvement, we can significantly improve protection against pneumococcus and strengthen our place in prevention campaigns. Together, let’s make vaccination a routine integrated into our daily practices, for the benefit of our patients and those around them.
