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The quality of immune response may decline with advancing age, resulting in increased susceptibility to infections. - Incidence of pneumococcal disease begins to increase in middle-age, with a marked increase in those 60 years and older.1 It has been estimated to cause 1.6 million deaths per year worldwide, of which an estimated 600,000 - 800,000 are adults.
- The annual number of invasive disease cases worldwide is estimated to be at least 1.2 million, with 135,000 deaths related to invasive meningococcal disease.
- In the UAE, the MOH gives an overall bacterial meningitis incidence of 3.7 cases/ 100,000 in 2001 based on 123 total cases.
Dubai, UAE, November 15, 2016: Even if you were vaccinated at a younger age, the protection from some vaccines can wear off or the virus or bacteria that the vaccine protects against changes so your resistance is not as strong. As you get older, you may also be at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases due to your age, job, hobbies, travel, or health conditions. Decreased birth rates and longer lifespans indicate that the global population is aging, although rates of aging differ between countries. In 2010, the proportion of the population aged >60 years in the general Arab Region was 7%, and this proportion is expected to rise to 19% by 2050 for the region as a whole.1 “Too many adolescents and adults are not receiving the vaccines they need to help them stay healthy throughout life. Parents and children’s care-givers, as well as adolescents, adults and health-workers need to understand the vital importance of keeping immunizations up to date throughout a person’s lifetime. As Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people with asthma, COPD, diabetes and heart disease should vaccinate against pneumococcal disease, once as an adult before 65 years of age and then two more doses at 65 years or older6,” says Dr. Sherif Fayed, Pulmonary Specialist at Al Zahra Hospital, Dubai. Individuals who carry S. pneumoniae in their nasal passages may potentially expose others to the risk of the disease through close contact via respiratory droplets that are sneezed, coughed, or exhaled containing S. pneumoniae bacteria. The majority of the cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in adults present as bacteremic pneumonia, and IPD is associated with case-fatality rates of 15—25% among elderly adults.1 Meningococcal disease remains an important cause of endemic and epidemic disease in many MENA countries. The epidemiology of meningococcal disease in MENA is affected by the proximity of the region to the African meningitis belt, which extends from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east. In this region, meningococcal disease incidence rates are several times higher than those seen in industrialized countries, sometimes exceeding 1000 cases per 100 000 population during regular N. meningitidis serogroup A outbreaks. “Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial form of meningitis, a serious infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It can cause severe brain damage and is fatal in 50% of cases if untreated. The bacteria are transmitted from person to person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers. Close and prolonged contact - such as sneezing or coughing on someone, or living in close quarters (such as a dormitory, sharing eating or drinking utensils) with an infected person (a carrier) - facilitates the spread of the disease ,” says Dr. Abdel Naser Kamel, Consultant Respiratory (Pulmonology) and Internal Medicine, at Al Noor Hospitals Group, Airport Road Branch. A retrospective analysis in the UAE examined the rates of community and hospital-acquired pneumonia from 1997 to 2002. The criteria for the diagnosis of CAP were symptoms of acute onset of cough, fever and new focal infiltrates on the chest radiograph, with or without the isolation of a pathogen from sputum or blood culture. The average age of the patients was 58 years, and the most common co-morbidities were diabetes mellitus (21%), malignancy (20%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (19%)1. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccination against meningococcal disease for adults who are 56 years and older, have complement component deficiency, have a damaged or removed spleen, a microbiologist exposed to N. meningitidis, travelling or residing in countries where the disease is common, part of population identified to be at risk, a first year college student living in a residence hall and a military recruit. Vaccination against meningococcal meningitis has been made mandatory by Ministry of Health in Kingdom of Saudi Arabic for all Hajj and Umrah travelers and visitors from African meningitis belt. Take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones.6 Staying healthy is a priority for all of us - and it's especially critical for those with chronic conditions. Vaccination provides the best protection against diseases that could result not only in serious health problems, but missed work, medical bills, and not being able to care for your family. Take the following steps to make sure you have the best protection. - Step 1: Learn about vaccines recommended for adults based on age and other factors.
- Step 2: Talk with a healthcare professional about which vaccines are right for you.
- Your doctor or other healthcare professional can advise you on which vaccines you need and why - as well as which vaccines may not be right for you based on certain factors such as allergies to vaccine ingredients or health conditions.
- Step 3: Get vaccinated.
- Step 4: Keep track of your vaccinations and make sure you stay up-to-date.
- Make sure to keep track of your vaccines to ensure you are up-to-date and have maximum protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.
- Step 5: Encourage your friends and loved ones to get vaccinated.
- All adults need immunization to help them prevent getting and spreading serious diseases. After getting your vaccinations, talk to your friends and loved ones about getting protected.
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