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 pneumoniae bacteria 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 (PCV 15, PCV20, or PCV 21) 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 Clinical Resources
  Pneumococcal vaccine standing order templates and materials for vaccine recipients.
• Immunize.org: PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate)
  Current VIS for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15, PCV20 and PCV21), including translated versions for several languages.
• Immunize.org: PPSV Pneumococcal Polysaccharide
  Current VIS for the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine including translated versions for several languages.

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.