THE number of people infected with invasive diseases worldwide is on the rise, with at least 1.2 million known cases and 135,000 deaths related to the invasive meningococcal disease alone. "If left unchecked, the disease will have far-reaching consequences," says Dr. Adel Fahd Al-Othman, head of Infectious Diseases Division at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. He said adult vaccination is essential to protect one's heath and prevent the diseases from spreading. Like the proverbial saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure", said Al-Othman. He urged Saudi Arabia to follow the targets set by the World Health Organization to ensure that people take the required vaccinations for pneumococcal and meningococcal diseases when needed. "Vaccination is a very important step in preventing many bacterial infections to human beings," he added. Aging is a widely recognized risk factor for pneumococcal disease – an infection caused by streptococcus pneumonia. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people with asthma, COPD, diabetes and heart disease to vaccinate against pneumococcal disease once as an adult before 65 years of age and then two more doses at 65 years or older. Decreased birth rates and longer lifespans indicate that the global population is aging, although rates of aging differ between countries. For example in 2010, the proportion of the population aged 60 years in the general Arab region was 7 percent, and this proportion is expected to rise to 19 percent by 2050 for the region as a whole. Likewise, as the quality of the immune response may decline with advancing age, resulting in increased susceptibility to infections and pathological conditions related to inflammation or autoimmune diseases, the burden of pneumococcal disease can be reduced by effective vaccination programs, Al-Othman pointed out. Invasive pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by streptococcus pneumonia that can affect lungs, blood, spinal fluid and tissues surrounding the brain and spinal fluid. Incidence of the disease begins to increase in middle age, with a marked increase in those 60 years and older. It has been estimated to cause 1.6 million deaths per year worldwide, of which an estimated 600,000-800,000 are adults. Al-Othman said immunization is shown to be among the most successful and cost-effective means of controlling pneumococcal disease and can be reduced by effective vaccination programs. Conjugate vaccine of pneumococcus given at 2 dosages will likely last for a decade or two according to several studies, he added. Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial form of meningitis, a serious infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It can cause severe brain damage and is fatal in 50 percent of the cases if untreated. The bacterium is transmitted from person to person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers. Close and prolonged contact – such as sneezing or coughing on someone, or living in close quarters (such as a dormitory, sharing eating or drinking utensils) with an infected person or carrier – facilitates the spread of the disease, Al-Othman said, adding that it can have high mortality rate. However, he said "conjugate vaccines can prevent the infection of such organism for decades." The meningococcal disease remains an important cause of endemic and epidemic diseases in many MENA countries. The epidemiology of meningococcal disease in MENA is affected by the proximity of the region to the African meningitis belt, which extends from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east. In this region, meningococcal disease incidence rates are several times higher than those seen in industrialized countries, sometimes exceeding 1000 cases per 100,000 population during regular N. meningitidis serogroup A outbreaks. Al-Othman underscored the importance of immunizations for their preventive role. "They would reduce chances of getting certain infections to the minimum. That is why vaccination is very important, especially because too many adolescents and adults are not receiving the vaccines they need to help them stay healthy throughout life. It should be known that these diseases are not only dangerous for children or the elderly, as adults are in risk of being infected as well," he explained. "All adults need immunization to help them prevent getting and spreading serious diseases. After getting your vaccinations, talk to your friends and loved ones about getting protected," he advised. As the holy month of Ramadan nears, many Muslims come to Saudi Arabia for Umrah from all over the world and therefore there is every reason to have the vaccination against meningitis. The same applies during Haj. And that explains why "obtaining visas for these pilgrimages is now dependent upon proof of vaccination," Al-Othman pointed out. Staying healthy is a priority for all and it's especially critical for those with chronic conditions. Vaccination provides the best protection against diseases that could result not only in serious health problems, but missed work, medical bills, and not being able to care for one's family.
