Health chiefs have not bought any new pneumonia vaccines despite warnings that the NHS vaccine, currently offered to people over 65, is less effective, The Mail on Sunday has learnt.
The potentially life-threatening lung infection, which can affect people with severe flu or other respiratory illnesses, contributed to almost 1,400 deaths in England and Wales in the first week of this year – almost double that of Covid.
People over 65 in the UK are usually injected with Pneumovax 23, which is usually only given once. However, it is only 65 percent effective and when government vaccination advisers met last March, they warned that the protection it provides is “rapidly diminishing”.
In documents presented to this newspaper, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) concluded that this meant vaccination “may not provide optimal protection” and suggested that the government should improve the purchase of one vaccine be considered.
LIFE THREATENING: A 3D scan of the lungs affected by pneumonia
People over 65 in the UK are most often bitten with Pneumovax 23, which is usually only given once (stock photo)
Pneumonia can be caused by a group of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, of which there are about 90 strains that range from mild to severe symptoms.
Two new vaccines have been approved in the UK which have been shown to be more effective than Pneumovax 23. Apexxnar, made by Pfizer – which also made one of the Covid vaccines – protects against 20 strains, and Vaxneuvance by the American company Merck offers strong protection against 15 of the most dangerous strains.
Both vaccines are used in place of Pneumovax 23 in the United States. But despite dire predictions that flu cases would rise in the UK this winter, NHS health chiefs have made no move to buy one either.
Experts say this lack of action has directly contributed to the rising number of pneumonia deaths this winter – and many more are expected.
Professor Adam Finn (pictured), a member of the JCVI, said the pneumonia vaccine offered by the NHS was not ‘fantastic’ but ‘cheap’.
‘[Pneumovax 23] is not a particularly good vaccine,” says Professor Adam Finn, a pediatric expert at the University of Bristol and a member of the JCVI.
“It prevents some of the more serious cases, but only for a short time.” We use it mainly because it’s cheap and it’s been around for a long time.’
Pneumonia is contagious, and the bacteria are usually spread when infected people talk, cough or sneeze.
Although anyone can get it, babies and the elderly are most at risk of being severely affected.
Studies show that people over 65 are ten times more likely to be hospitalized with pneumonia than people aged 18-50.
About a third of cases are due to a virus – such as flu or Covid – that gets into the lungs.
However, most serious cases of pneumonia are caused by bacteria and are likely to have serious consequences for people who have other diseases that result in a weakened immune system.
Once inside the body, pneumonia lice can cause further lung damage and even cause sepsis – a potentially fatal condition in which the immune system overreacts to infection and begins attacking healthy tissue.
“Pneumonia is what we see most often in older patients who have been hospitalized with the flu,” says Dr. Ron Daniels, Critical Care Specialist, Director of the UK Sepsis Trust charity.
“The flu damages the lungs and puts a strain on the immune system, which allows the bacteria to take hold.”
Studies show that although Apexxnar protects against fewer types of pneumonia than the NHS-choice Pneumovax 23, it produces much longer-lasting protective antibodies – defense proteins that fight disease.
Vaxneuvance has also been shown to induce an enhanced immune response against two strains of pneumonia not covered by the current pediatric vaccine, Prevenar 13.
“We need to use the best vaccine for the job if we want to protect the public from this disease,” says Dr. Daniels.
“In recent months we have seen an increasing number of people who have been stung, but unfortunately still die of pneumonia. This is often because the protection against the sting has worn off over a few years.
“This is in addition to the many otherwise healthy vaccinated people who become seriously ill and require emergency treatment.”
Prof Finn argues that the reason the government is reluctant to order a new vaccine is the cost – the newer vaccines cost around £50 per dose, while Pneumovax 23 is just £17.
“Now that the worst of the Covid pandemic is over, there is no desire to spend large sums of money,” he adds.
All experts agree that anyone over 65 should still choose the current vaccine if offered because it offers some protection.
But Dr Daniels says: “We should at least try to offer an improved vaccine to the most vulnerable groups. These are patients who are living with a serious illness, such as cancer, or who have just had surgery.
“And they are the ones who die of pneumonia in our wards despite vaccination. We need to do more to protect them.”
DR Mary Ramsay, Director of Immunization at the UK Health Security Agency, said last night: “These newer vaccines may offer protection against some additional strains and the JCVI is currently studying their potential use in the UK.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
