The Grey Bruce Health Unit is reporting an increase in a type of pneumonia.
Public Health Nurse Debby Minielly says over the past two years, cases of pneumococcal pneumonia have gone up by 50 per cent.
Minielly says this kind of bacterial pneumonia causes more deaths in the elderly than any other bacterial, vaccine-preventable disease.
She says the reason behind the increase is not yet clear and the cases do not appear to be linked.
The Health Unit is recommending high risk people get the vaccine.
High risk groups include people over 65 and those with chronic medical conditions such as respitory, heart, kidney, or liver disease, alcoholism, diabetes, and even smokers.
Minielly says the literature suggests the vaccine is 50 to 80 per cent effective with the eldery and those suffering from chronic illness.
The vaccine is available for free to those in the high risk groups through family doctors and the Grey Bruce Health Unit clinics.
