PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Weightman, Nigel C AU - Walters, Anthony TI - Missed opportunities in vaccination of patients with subsequent pneumococcal bacteraemia. DP - 2003 Jul 01 TA - British Journal of General Practice PG - 547--549 VI - 53 IP - 492 4099 - http://bjgp.org/content/53/492/547.short 4100 - http://bjgp.org/content/53/492/547.full SO - Br J Gen Pract2003 Jul 01; 53 AB - 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.