Abstract
This chapter summarizes the epidemiology of pneumococcal disease among adults in the United States, available pneumococcal vaccines, and current recommendations regarding their use among adults. Although there has been a decline in vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease among adults due to indirect “herd” protection from the use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in children, there is still a significant burden. Pneumococcal disease is more common and more severe among adults with underlying conditions that lead to decreased immunity. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices currently recommends use of both the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in all adults aged >65years and in adults aged >19years with certain medical conditions. However, overall pneumococcal vaccine coverage among adults remains low and has not yet met the Healthy People 2020 target.
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