PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Nigel C Weightman
AU  - Anthony Walters
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.