Individual protection and population effect – two sides of one medal

The studies of the serotype composition of pneumococci in various countries indicate that over 80% of the most severe invasive diseases are caused by 20 serotypes, and 13 serotypes cause 70–75% of diseases globally [3]. The vaccination of the population is the main way to reduce the incidence of both invasive and non-invasive pneumococcal infections. With evidence of the safety and efficacy of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, WHO and UNCF consider it necessary to include these vaccines for children in the national immunization programs around the world.