[Understanding of pneumococcal vaccination in patients with chronic respiratory diseases].

Pneumococcal vaccination is still rare in Japan. To evaluate understanding concerning the vaccination, we employed a questionnaire answered by patients aged over 60 with chronic respiratory diseases from August to October 2002. Only 286 (18%) of the 1595 patients already knew of the existence of the vaccine, and 999 (64%) patients wanted to be vaccinated. That season, 717 (43%) patients were actually vaccinated. Patients with chronic respiratory failure, those who had contracted pulmonary infections in the previous year, those over 70 year-old, and male patients tended to be vaccinated. Although elderly and high-risk patients are recommended to be vaccinated, the pneumococcal vaccination rates in those patients was low. Campaigns for vaccination are needed.