Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a respiratory infection that affects the lungs and can be caused by bacterial, viral or fungal agents [44723]. Signs of pneumonia include fever, cough, rapid or difficulty breathing and fatigue [44724]. High rates of pneumonia are associated with factors like crowded housing and smoking [44723] .

Pneumonia is a major cause of illness and mortality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people [44720]. It particularly impacts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, who are hospitalised at far higher rates than non-Indigenous children.

In addition to good hygiene and smoke free environments, vaccination is a key strategy in the prevention of pneumonia. Under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), the pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination is freely available to:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people under the age of 50 with a medical condition putting them at higher risk of illness
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over [44724].