Health experts in England have called on parents to have their infants, particularly those under a year old, to receive their vaccinations to avoid serious illness such as pneumonia and meningitis.

Data showed that one in six children remain unvaccinated and health officials warned that it could lead to an increase in the number of teens and adults who suffer permanent disability due to pneumococcal infection.

Estimates revealed that up to a half of those pneumococcal survivors are still left with permanent disabilities such as deafness, intellectual impairment, speech and language problems, paralysis, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and blindness.

"Pneumococcal meningitis is a devastating disease and vaccination is the only way to prevent it. That means it is important for parents to immunize their children," said Sue Davie, chief executive at the Meningitis Trust, a British organization.

"It is so important for a child to get all their vaccinations and this success story should serve as a reminder to check that your child's vaccines are up to date," added David Salisbury, Director of Immunization. "That about 300 young children have already been saved the trauma of suffering from a major illness like meningitis shows the importance of vaccinating children against serious illness.

A pneumococcal vaccine has been widely recommended among patients today, following the emergence of penicillin resistance in strains of pneumococci which many believe complicates antibiotic treatment of the disease.