Health Minister Løhde acknowledges challenges after pneumococcal vaccine removed from seasonal program in Denmark

Before receiving the vaccine, Hans Lützen experienced pneumonia four to five times a year. However, since getting vaccinated five years ago, he has only had it once. Lützen, a retiree suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), has opted to receive the pneumococcal vaccine every six years, which protects against the bacteria that often causes pneumonia. “It has worked as it should,” he states.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the pneumococcal vaccine was part of the seasonal vaccination program, where individuals over 65 were invited annually for free vaccinations against influenza and the coronavirus. Recently, however, the pneumonia vaccine has been removed from this program, prompting calls from numerous doctors and the organization Older People’s Association to reinstate it.

Lützen, who leads a weekly exercise group for individuals with lung conditions, notes that many participants are unaware that such a vaccine exists. “If it were automatically included, no one would be overlooked,” he suggests.

Receiving the pneumonia vaccine is now more complicated than it used to be, requiring a doctor’s prescription, followed by purchasing the vaccine from a pharmacy and scheduling an appointment for the injection. Lützen believes that many in his network of individuals with lung diseases do not have as proactive a doctor as he does, which leads to a lack of awareness regarding vaccination options. He emphasizes the importance of making this vaccine available to those at risk for pneumonia.

Health Minister Sophie Løhde has acknowledged that the situation today differs significantly from the pandemic era, stating that health authorities continually assess which vaccines to include in their programs. Currently, there is no broad recommendation for the pneumococcal vaccine, although it remains available for individuals at higher risk of serious infections. Løhde has requested a review to identify ways to improve awareness and accessibility of the vaccine.