National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport
Pneumococci are bacteria. People aged 60 years and older can become more seriously ill from pneumococci, and fall ill more quickly. Your immune system grows weaker as you get older.
You could develop a serious illness, such as pneumonia. The vaccination reduces the risk that you will become ill from pneumococci.
Pneumococci are bacteria. There are more than 90 different types of pneumococci. Anyone can carry these bacteria without becoming ill. When that happens, the bacteria are present inside the nose. When people sneeze and cough, bacteria are pushed out into the air in small droplets. If other people inhale the small droplets, they could become infected.