| Summary: | Pneumococcus is an important cause of community acquired pneumonia and the commonest cause of community acquired bacterial pneumonia. It also causes invasive pneumococcal disease that increases hospitalization rates, economic burden, morbidity and mortality. Apart from children below 5 years, adults 65 years or more, and all adults with underlying medical conditions or immunodeficiency are at increased risk of pneumococcal infection. For these adult groups pneumococcal vaccination that includes the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) is recommended that has shown to reduce risk of severe pneumococcal pneumonia, invasive pneumococcal disease, hospitalization rates, and mortality. However, awareness and practical implementation of adult pneumococcal vaccination is concerningly low. Surveys, awareness programs, and counseling, at the community level, as well as with physicians in primary care, have shown significant improvements in adult pneumococcal vaccination rates.
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