Seniors urged to take pneumonia seriously

Seniors are feeling younger and fitter but that won't stop them from getting a deadly lung infection, the Lung Foundation Australia has warned.

A vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia will add up five years to the life of seniors, aged 65 to 74, who remain unaware their age alone makes them more susceptible to developing the disease, the foundation says.

Worryingly, the research shows seniors don't intend to vaccinate against the preventable infection, according to the foundation.

"We are seeing a rise of a generation of healthy, fit and fabulous Australians in their mid-60s who love to travel and care for their grandchildren... but don't realise that developing pneumococcal pneumonia could change all of that," foundation member Associate Professor Lucy Morgan said on Tuesday.

Many are unaware the infection can be passed onto grandchildren or vice-versa.

Assoc Prof Morgan said the vaccination rate of seniors remains low despite efforts to raise awareness.

Two-thirds of seniors remain unvaccinated and 40 per cent aren't even aware of the vaccine's existence, she said.