The importance of pneummococcal vaccination has increased in recent years as penicillin-resistant pneumococcal disease has become more common.

Pneumococcal vaccine is effective against pneumococcal bacteremia but less effective in preventing pneumococcal pneumonia itself.

Pneumococcal bacteremia affects 50,000 people in the United States each year and the pneumococcal vaccine will reduce the risk of pneumococcal bacteremia by 60 to 80% in the populations to whom the vaccine is given.

Copyright 2000