Adult vaccination against pneumococcal diseases like meningitis, respiratory infections and pneumonia, can save lives and prevent these infections from spreading, said a senior doctor, calling for mass awareness about the matter.

It has been noticed in Gulf countries, that understanding of the potential of adult vaccination in prevention of diseases and awareness on pneumococcal diseases is very low, posing a major cause of concern, added Dr Fatma Mahmood Al-Attar- head of Preventive Services Center at Dubai Health Authority(DHA).

“Risk groups for pneumococcal diseases include adults over the age of 50, adults with comorbidities like type 2 diabetes mellitus, hematological malignancy, organ and bone marrow transplantation or chronic cardiovascular, kidney or lung diseases as well as pilgrims undertaking the Hajj,” said Dr Al-Attar.

“Ageing has been widely recognized as a risk factor due to natural weakening of the body’s immune system and susceptibility to infection. In UAE, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is among the highest in the world, ensuring that this co-morbidity is a substantial risk factor for pneumococcal disease,” she added.

Mass gatherings such as Hajj, provide the ideal overcrowded conditions for the transmission of infections and it has long been linked to a number of epidemics and outbreaks of some diseases.

Community-acquired pneumonia has been identified as the most common cause of hospitalization during Hajj. Pilgrims are exposed to severe infections like meningitis, respiratory tract infections (upper and lower) tuberculosis, viral infections, polio virus, blood borne diseases, food poisoning and zoonotic diseases. Health risks can also involve trauma, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, sunburn and dehydration.

“We have noticed that instance of pneumococcal diseases is always under-reported. While the notification service for infectious diseases in Dubai, UAE, receives an average of 11,000 infectious disease notifications annually, pneumonia is not highly represented in this sample, and there is no specification of stereotype, indicating the need for improving awareness and notification,” said Dr Al-Attar.

“Adult vaccination, especially pneumococcal vaccination is a must for not only pilgrims travelling for Hajj but for everyone in the risk category. Health complications and fatalities posed by these diseases are preventable and we must take all necessary measures to protect ourselves.”

Adult vaccination facilities are offered by various organizations in UAE, where doctors work with each patient individually to ascertain the best course of vaccination to be undertaken. – TradeArabia News Service