An update on pneumococcal vaccination in children and adults

Streptococcus pneumoniae can cause acute, invasive bacterial infections, such as meningitis, bacteraemia and pneumonia, as well as less invasive diseases, such as sinusitis and otitis media. Infants and young children, adults over 65 years of age, and individuals with underlying medical conditions are at greatest risk of infection. Invasive pneumococcal disease can be prevented by vaccination. Infants routinely receive pneumococcal conjugate vaccines as part of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation. It is recommended that adults who are older than 65 years receive a single dose of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). For individuals between the ages of two and 64 years with underlying medical conditions, both pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13 (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) may be recommended. In this article, we discuss the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, and when to use them in healthy individuals and in those at increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease. (C) Medpharm