Pneumococcal Information for Health Professionals

Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae. It can cause pneumonia, bacteremia, or meningitis.

The Streptococcus pneumoniaebacteria kills more people in the United States each year than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined. Immunization is becoming increasingly important because of growing resistance to antibiotics used for treating pneumococcal infections. There are more than 90 known strains of pneumococcal disease, and two different types of vaccines, often called "pneumonia shots," that help combat pneumococcal disease.

On this page:
Reporting
Vaccine information 
Standards and guidelines
Vaccination programs

Reporting

• Reporting Streptococcal Disease
  All invasive Streptococcal disease caused by S. pneumoniae must be reported to MDH within one working day.

Vaccine information

• CDC: Pneumococcal Vaccination: Information for Healthcare Professionals
  Information from the CDC on the two types of pneumococcal vaccines: Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13, PCV 15, or PCV20) and Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23). Includes information on who should get which vaccine, storage and handling, vaccine administration, and more.
• CDC: PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor App for Vaccine Providers
  PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor Mobile App and Webpage help vaccination providers quickly and easily determine which pneumococcal vaccines a patient needs and when. Visit the PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor website on the CDC webpage for more information.
• Immunize.org: Pneumococcal Disease (PCV)
  Resources and handouts, including Vaccine Information Statements (VISs), from Immunize.org for the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCV13, PCV15, and PCV20).
• Immunize.org: Pneumococcal Disease (PPSV)
  Resources and handouts, including Vaccine Information Statements (VISs), from Immunize.org for the Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23).

Standards and guidelines

• CDC: ACIP Recommendations: Pneumococcal Vaccine
  Pneumococcal vaccine recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
• CDC: Clinical Overview of Pneumococcal Disease
  Information on risk factors, clinical features, testing and diagnosis for health care providers.

Vaccination programs

• Adults Only Vaccination: A Step-by-Step Guide
  Need help in establishing protocols for vaccinating your adult patients? Need tools to determine which vaccinations they need? Designed to help integrate immunization services into health care settings new to vaccination, this guide and accompanying tools are equally valuable for settings experienced in vaccine delivery.