The risk of invasive pneumococcal disease increases with age, especially after age 65, and is higher in people with chronic diseases. 2 Increasing antimicrobial resistance of S. pneumoniae across Canada adds urgency to the situation and speaks to the importance of prevention.
Pneumococcal vaccine is safe, efficacious and cost-effective.
It has been commercially available since 1983, and all provinces provide it free for at least some high-risk groups. Nevertheless, pneumococcal vaccine is sadly underused in Canada. Vaccination is recommended for the following groups. People aged 65 years and older. For most people a single dose of pneumococcal vaccine provides long-lasting protection.