TY - JOUR T1 - Missed opportunities in vaccination of patients with subsequent pneumococcal bacteraemia. JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 547 LP - 549 VL - 53 IS - 492 AU - Nigel C Weightman AU - Anthony Walters Y1 - 2003/07/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/53/492/547.abstract N2 - A 10-year survey was undertaken to determine whether patients who developed pneumococcal bacteraemia had previously been given pneumococcal vaccine, and whether they had previously had the opportunity of being vaccinated. Fifty-two per cent of the patients were candidates for vaccine. Of these, only 14% had been vaccinated. In the preceding five years, 97% of non-vaccinated patients had the opportunity of being assessed for, and administered, vaccine. Guidelines for the use of pneumococcal vaccine are not being followed, despite opportunities to do so. ER -