Minister of Health, Lydia Mutsch;

As of 1 September 2018, vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia for those aged 65 and over and people who are at particular risk will be covered 100%.

Today, Luxembourg's Minister of Health, Lydia Mutsch, the Minister of Social Security, Romain Schneider, and the President of the National Health Fund, Paul Schmit, signed a convention that sets up a vaccination programme against pneumococcus.

Pneumococcus is a bacterium that can cause meningitis, septicemia, pneumonia and other serious invasive infections. This germ is the main cause of meningitis in young children. Pneumococcus can also cause sepsis or pneumonia in children, the elderly or those who are more fragile (immune deficiency, absence of spleen, etc.). These infections can be life-threatening or leave serious consequences.

The transmission of pneumococcus is by projection of respiratory droplets, postillions, saliva or by direct contact with a person carrying the bacterium.

The goal of the programme is to prevent invasive pneumococcal infection by specific vaccination of the target population and thus minimise the risk of complications, which can be a source of morbidity and premature mortality.

Based on figures from neighbouring countries, the Directorate of Health estimates that each year, more than 1,000 people suffer from invasive pneumococcal infections in Luxembourg, and that more than 100 people die from it.

Persons covered by the care provided for in the agreement on the basis of the recommendations of the Higher Council for Infectious Diseases (CSMI)

Healthy adults:

• Adults 65 and over (up to 85 years old)

Patients at specific risk:

• Immunocompetent persons, with an increased risk of developing pneumococcal infection (population with comorbidities), namely:
o People with chronic lung disease;
o Smokers;
o People with chronic heart disease;
o (Ethyl) people with or without cirrhosis;
o People with chronic kidney disease;
o People with a meningeal breach or a cochlear implant.

• Immunocompromised persons:

o Congenital absence of spleen or splenectomy or functional asplenia;
o Sickle cell disease or other hemoglobinopathies;
o Congenital immunodeficiency;
o Neoplasia;
o Organ transplantation;
o HIV infection;
o Immunosuppressive treatment.

Mode of vaccination

Vaccination in adults requires a double injection at 8 week intervals of a conjugate vaccine (Prevenar-13) and a polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax-23). It will be taken care of for the persons for whom the CSMI recommends the use and defined in the convention. The vaccines will be issued by pharmacies open to the public on the basis of a medical prescription.

In the current state of scientific knowledge, a reminder/booster of the Pneumovax-23 polysaccharide vaccine is recommended every 5 years. A reminder/booster of Prevenar-13 conjugate vaccine is not necessary.

A public information campaign and pharmacies and doctors will be launched in September, in close collaboration with pharmaceutical companies.