Few vaccinations against disease

JUST 2% of the population have been vaccinated against pneumococcal disease, compared with 40% who have been vaccinated against flu, research shows.

More than 200 people die every year as a result of contracting pneumococcal disease, an umbrella term for a range of illnesses, including meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia.

Immunisation guidelines for Ireland recommend that people over 65 years and certain vulnerable groups should be vaccinated against both pneumococcal disease and the flu.

The survey, conducted by TNS mrbi for Sanofi Pasteur MSD, found fewer than three out of 10 people had heard of the disease. It also found there was a high level of ignorance about the disease, 41% believed it could cause flu and 9% believed it could cause cancer.