Some adults carry pneumococcal bacteria in the back of their nose and throat and can pass them around by coughing, sneezing, and close contact. Usually, this doesn’t result in serious illness but it can lead to pneumococcal infection, including pneumococcal meningitis.
You have a higher chance of becoming unwell with a pneumococcal infection if:
- you’re aged 65 or over
- you’re under 65 and have certain health conditions
People aged 65 or over are more likely to suffer serious long-term health problems from pneumococcal infection.