Pneumococcal Disease in High-Risk Adults in Lebanon: Expert Opinion

Abstract

Pneumococcal disease affects people across all ages but is more prevalent in young children and the elderly. Despite the availability of the pneumococcal vaccine for adults, the disease burden and mortality associated with it remains a challenge. A few studies conducted in Lebanon have reported epidemiology of pneumococcal disease, concurring the high burden among adults and older adults in the region. The pneumococcal vaccine is a part of the routine immunization schedule for children, but there are no recommendations for adult vaccination. A medical advisory board was hence conducted in September 2020 to discuss the burden of pneumococcal disease (PD) among adults in Lebanon. The participants were experts from the fields of internal medicine, family medicine, hematology, cardiology, oncology, endocrinology, pulmonology, and infectious diseases. The experts reached a consensus that there is a need to take steps to increase the rate of adult vaccination uptake and create awareness among physicians, pharmacists, caregivers, and patients. The physicians should be trained on adult immunization and should actively discuss the importance of the pneumococcal vaccine, especially with high-risk adult patients. Implementing adult vaccination as a routine practice and involving various stakeholders to address the gaps can help in reducing the burden of pneumococcal disease in adults.