Campaign launched to spur public uptake of pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination

In conjunction with World Immunisation Week, the Malaysian Thoracic Society (MTS) launched a public awareness campaign to encourage pneumococcal vaccination among older adults in the country. Called ‘You Are Our Best Shot,’ the campaign aims to make vaccination an integral part of healthy ageing and public health.

The campaign is based on a digital resource hub known as PreventPneumonia.com.my, which houses information about pneumococcal pneumonia, engagement tools, guidance on disease prevention and inspirational stories to nudge Malaysians to be proactive about their health and embrace the notion of vaccination to prevent illnesses. The awareness campaign is supported by Pfizer Malaysia.

Adult vaccination a necessity, not an option
In early April, MTS conducted a survey among Malaysians to gauge their knowledge about pneumococcal pneumonia, behavioural patterns in relation to healthcare choices, and their attitude towards vaccination.

Alarmingly, the survey results revealed that more than half of the respondents (62 percent) were unaware that pneumococcal pneumonia could be prevented through vaccination, and also many of the respondents believed that only babies and children are susceptible to the disease. Studies have shown that older adults (those aged ≥50 years) are more likely to have the disease because of their decreased cough reflex, impaired mucociliary function, weakened immunity, and the presence of additional medical conditions. [Available at  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2917114/. Accessed on 1 June 2021]  This is of special concern because Malaysia is expected to be an aged nation by 2030, and it is estimated that 15 percent of the population will be ≥60 years of age. [Available at https://www.statista.com/statistics/713529/malaysia-aging-population/. Accessed on 1 June 2021]

Lending his voice to the campaign’s launch, Associate Professor Dr Pang Yong Kek, president, Malaysian Thoracic Society and senior consultant respiratory physician, said: “In an ageing population with a high burden of vaccine-preventable diseases such as pneumococcal pneumonia, vaccines are equally as important in adults as they are in children. Older adults have a far higher risk of contracting infections and severe complications than younger people, and their impact is often greater, with poorer outcomes.”

Pang added: “As the saying goes ‘prevention is better than cure,’ and this certainly rings true, from cost-effectiveness, productivity, use of healthcare resources and risk to others. Pneumonia in the elderly can be very serious—even deadly. We hope the campaign can raise awareness and educate people that vaccines are not just for babies and children. Everyone has a critical role to play in ensuring people of all ages have the opportunity to prevent illness through vaccination.”

Pang encouraged his peers and colleagues to proactively bring up the topic of vaccination and debunk the abundant misinformation existing out there. He said the commitment of multiple stakeholders will allow more people to protect themselves and make it more difficult for infectious diseases to spread, thus the concept of herd immunity.

“We are often unaware of the impact that infectious diseases can have on ourselves and our loved ones.  They can put us at risk of serious medical conditions. Ongoing vaccination is a crucial cornerstone in keeping our communities healthy as it protects us from many serious infectious diseases at every stage of life. It is important for people to consult their doctors on how they can protect themselves and their loved ones against vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Luksanawan Thangpaibool, Country Manager, Pfizer Malaysia and Brunei. [Available at https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/vaccines-and-immunization/news/news/2017/04/vaccination-protects-health-at-every-stage-of-life. Accessed on 1 June 2021]