Ask the Express doctor

Q If coronavirus becomes serious, it causes pneumonia, so why doesn’t the Government arrange for older people to be inoculated against it? The vaccine is available so why don’t they use it more instead of keeping older people indoors for goodness knows how long. This will cause more damage than the virus.

A I think you are referring to the pneumococcal vaccine. This boosts immunity against the pneumococcus bacteria, which is a common cause of pneumonia in older people, and is usually offered routinely to everyone over the age of 65. It is also included in the immunisation schedule for babies, who are given two doses, one at 12 weeks and one at a year, and also to adults with some types of heart, kidney or chest disease, and those who have their spleen removed.

Unfortunately, it does not provide protection against the viral pneumonia caused by Covid-19, so even if you have had the vaccine you will be just as susceptible to severe illness from coronavirus as anyone else.

Sadly there is a shortage of the vaccine (due to production problems, and nothing to do with the pandemic). So it has not been given to otherwise healthy older people. Instead, supplies are being prioritised for those with underlying diseases. If you think you come into this group, contact your GP.

If you have a health question for Dr Leonard, write to her in confidence at the Daily Express, One Canada Square, CanaryWharf, London E14 5AP, or email yourhealth@express.co. uk. Dr Leonard cannot enter into correspondence or reply to everyone