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Anyone can get a pneumo infection, but some people have a higher risk of the infection turning into something more serious.

You may be eligible for free pneumococcal vaccination as part of the national immunisation programme. Use our Eligibility Calculator below to find out.

How old are you or how old is the person you’re checking eligibility for?

2 – 64 64+

Eligibility form

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

HEALTH CONDITIONS

People who have certain health conditions are at increased
risk of infection. The pneumo vaccine PPV23
is available for free for those aged 2 or over with:1

  • Diabetes
  • Chronic heart disease
  • Chronic lung disease
  • Chronic liver or kidney disease
  • Chronic neurological disease
  • Children aged over 2 years and under 5 years of age with a history of invasive pneumococcal disease
  • Coeliac disease
  • Down Syndrome
  • Immune deficiency because of a disease or treatment, including cancer patients
  • HIV infection
  • Cochlear implants or are about to get cochlear implants
  • Absent spleen or a non-functioning spleen
  • CSF leaks, either congenital or complicating skull fractures or neurosurgery
  • Intracranial shunt

Adults with
Chronic Heart
or Lung disease,
as well as those
with Diabetes
are

3 to 6

times more
at risk of
pneumo.4

HEALTH CONDITIONS

Age is a risk factor for pneumo. Older people and very young
children are at increased risk of infection.1

Age risk factor graph

Data taken from the HSPC – Infectious Notifications in Ireland. Showing the number of confirmed IPD cases by age in 2023.

Syringe and bacteria illustration

The pneumo vaccine PPV23 is recommended for everyone aged 65 years or older and is available for free from your GP.1,6

Illustration of senior male and female over 65 years

The pneumo conjugate vaccine PCV13 is given to babies as part of the childhood immunisation schedule.3

Baby illustration

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

Visit our frequently asked questions

Or speak to your doctor, practice nurse or
pharmacist about pneumococcal vaccination.

1. HSE Pneumococcal Disease – Vaccine (Accessed September 2024)
2. HPSC-Infectious Disease Notifications in Ireland 2019-2023 (Accessed September 2024)
3. HSE Pneumococcal Disease – Disease & Vaccine (Accessed September 2024)
4. Kyaw MH, et. al. J Infect Dis. 2005 Aug 1;192(3):377-86
5. B&A Research (MSD Data on File 2023. The research was commissioned by MSD Ireland and carried out by Behaviour and Attitudes on a sample population of 1,458 adults in Ireland.)
6. HSE Pneumococcal Disease – Vaccine for people at risk (Accessed September 2024)

Supported by

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