Dangerous vaccination fatigue: Only 20 percent of seniors are still vaccinated against pneumococcus. An infection with pneumococci can cause serious health damage.
Parents know this: Small children often suffer from fever, blocked sinuses, a runny nose and earache caused by a bacterial infection. This is often caused by pneumococci, which often cause persistent middle ear infections in children. A significant increase in pneumococcal diseases has been observed in recent years. Pneumococci are bacteria that are transmitted through droplet infections when speaking or sneezing and are the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. Already at the beginning of 2025, the number of cases of invasive pneumococcal diseases exceeded those of the previous year (2024) by over a third in the same period.
Older people are particularly at risk from pneumococcus
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In adults, the bacteria often also attack the lungs, causing pneumonia. “It becomes problematic when this disease does not remain locally limited to the lungs, but becomes invasive,” warns Prof. Dr. Andreas Rembert Koczulla. The chief physician at the specialist center for pulmonology at the Schön Klinik Berchtesgadener Land explains: “If the bacteria enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, this is called an invasive disease. This can be particularly dangerous and lead to meningitis or blood poisoning (sepsis).” The pneumococcal expert reports 660,000 cases of pneumonia caused by pneumococci each year in Germany. Especially for the 60 plus generation, pneumococci represent a life-threatening danger that should not be underestimated: “Of those over 60 who are admitted to hospital with pneumonia caused by pneumococci, almost 20 percent die; overall, the mortality rate from pneumococci in people over 60 is twelve percent,” warns the doctor.
Children are often carriers and transmitters of the bacteria
What makes pneumococci particularly threatening: a colonization in the nasopharynx can exist even without symptoms of illness and the bacteria can be spread unknowingly. Children are the most common carriers and transmitters. When older adults become ill, it takes longer for them to recover than younger adults. In addition, physical limitations often remain: These can affect different areas – including the central nervous system, but also hearing, heart, lungs, kidneys and blood vessels. For example, it can lead to cognitive disorders, behavioral changes, weakness or even hearing loss, but also heart attacks, a decline in lung function and chronic kidney disease.
High-risk patients and people over 60 should get vaccinated
A single vaccination protects. The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) recommends a single vaccination against pneumococci for people aged 60 and over. The recommendation also applies to high-risk patients. These include people with immune deficiencies, other chronic illnesses and an increased risk of meningitis caused by pneumococci. By the way: Certain professional groups are also particularly at risk, especially people who work with metal.
The sobering fact is that only one in four people for whom pneumococcal vaccination is recommended is actually vaccinated. According to the Robert Koch Institute, around 20 percent of all people over 60 in Germany were vaccinated in 2024 – correspondingly 80 percent are unvaccinated. Overall, around 23 percent of people over 18 with underlying illnesses relevant to vaccination have been vaccinated.
Five tips that are good for the lungs!
Take a breath, recharge your batteries, train your immune system: Our lungs are a real powerhouse: we breathe in and out 10,000 to 20,000 liters of fresh air every day. The lungs supply us with vital oxygen – completely automatically and usually unnoticed. Only when it no longer works so well due to age or as a result of pneumonia do we realize how much we need it: then climbing the stairs or carrying shopping bags becomes a challenge. The good news: With a few simple tips, our lungs can be strengthened in everyday life. This means we stay fit longer and don’t get out of breath as quickly as we get older.
1. Training keeps you fit – with simple breathing exercises in between
Did you know? You can actually train your lungs. Even if it doesn’t have its own muscles, the surrounding muscles – such as the diaphragm, ribs and abdominal muscles – can be specifically strengthened. A simple exercise for in between is the so-called lip brake: The lips are relaxed together, inhale through the nose and exhale slowly through the narrowed, only slightly open mouth. 2, 3 Make sure that your stomach rises when you breathe in – this promotes so-called diaphragmatic or abdominal breathing.4 Even several two-minute sessions a day can help to strengthen the surrounding muscles.
2. Variety for the lungs: laughing and singing
Laughter is healthy – also for the lungs! When we laugh, we tense up to 300 muscles and breathe faster – the body absorbs significantly more oxygen. Something similar happens when singing: breathing moves into the stomach, becomes deeper and usually faster – the body is supplied with more oxygen. The effects on health are considerable: the stress level drops, feel-good hormones are released and even the immune system is strengthened.6, 7 Even with an existing lung disease, singing can have positive effects on patients: According to scientific studies, people with lung diseases often feel generally better due to the improved oxygen supply, have less fear, more joy in life and can cope more easily in everyday life.
3. Get out into the fresh air! This is good for the lungs
In closed rooms, the air is often dry and contains less oxygen – which can put a strain on breathing. That’s why you should go out into the fresh air regularly to help your lungs absorb oxygen. Ideally, the time outdoors is used to exercise – this also stimulates oxygen intake.
4. Avoid what harms: cigarettes and harmful substances
When we smoke, we expose our lungs to harmful substances. The result: The noticeable success: after just twelve hours, the organs are better supplied again. After two to three weeks, lung function noticeably improves, coughing fits and shortness of breath decrease. And: After ten years, the risk of dying from lung cancer is only half as high as that of an active smoker.
5. Training for the immune system: vaccination to protect against pneumonia
Especially as we get older, our immune system loses its effectiveness. Our bodies become more susceptible to respiratory infections – for example, caused by pneumococcal bacteria, which are constantly around us in everyday life but pose a risk if we have a weakened immune system. Pneumococci can sometimes cause life-threatening infections such as bacterial pneumonia (pneumonia), meningitis (meningitis) or blood poisoning (sepsis). They are also the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia, which can significantly weaken the body. The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) therefore recommends, among other things, people aged 60 and over to be vaccinated against pneumococci. As a so-called standard vaccination, the one-time vaccination for these people is reimbursed by health insurance companies. It can also be done in combination with the next flu vaccination from your family doctor.
