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Vaccinations against pneumococcal pneumonia will be 100% reimbursed by the CNS from 1 September 2018 onwardsPhoto: Flickr/NIAID 

The health ministry announced the coverage on Monday saying that the reimbursement applied from 1 September 2018 onwards.

Ministers signed an agreement with the national health fund establishing the vaccination programme in a bid to reduce further fatal or debilitating infections.

According to the government, pneumococcus is a bacterium that can cause meningitis, sepsis, 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 more fragile people (immune deficiency, absence of spleen, etc.). It is transmitted by respiratory droplets, spitting, saliva or by direct contact with a person carrying the bacteria.

Based on figures from our neighbouring countries, the Luxembourg health directorate estimates that each year more than 1,000 people suffer from invasive pneumococcal infections in Luxembourg, and that more than 100 people die from them.

Who is eligible?

The list of people eligible for the free vaccination includes adults aged 65 to 85, at risk patients such as those suffering chronic lung disease, smokers, people with heart disease, ethylic people with our without cirrhosis, people with chronic kidney disease or those with a meningeal breach or cochlear impact.

Immunocompromised people are also eligible. These include people with a congenital absence of spleen or splenectomy or functional asplenia; sickle cell disease or other hemoglobulinopathies; congenital immunodeficiency; neoplasia; organ transplantation; HIV; and people undergoing immunosuppressive treatment.

Method of vaccination

Adult vaccination requires a double injection at 8-week intervals of a conjugate vaccine (Prevenar-13) and a polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax-23). The vaccines will be delivered by pharmacies open to the public on the basis of a medical prescription.

According to current scientific knowledge, a booster of the polysaccharide vaccine Pneumovax-23 is recommended every 5 years. A booster Prevenar-13 conjugate vaccine is not required.