New 15-Valent Pneumococcal Vaccine – VAXNEUVANCE

Pneumococcal infection refers to all diseases caused by pneumococci. There are over ninety different serotypes of this bacterium. Pneumococci can be transmitted through droplets and contact with respiratory secretions; direct contact with patients is another route of transmission.

Pneumococcal bacteria can cause a variety of different illnesses, including:

meningitis
This is a severe pneumococcal infection. Patients usually experience symptoms such as fever, stiff neck and confusion, and can cause hearing loss and even death;

pneumonia
Patients will develop symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, chills and cough with phlegm, which may lead to death in severe cases; and

otitis media
Symptoms of patients include fever and earache, and discharge may occur in the ears. Those with repeated attacks may suffer hearing damage.

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