Pneumococcal vaccine recommendation. American College of Physicians; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Endorsed by the advisory committee on immunization practices, council of medical societies.

Vaccination with the now-available pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for persons with diseases and other conditions predisposing to the development of bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia or increased risk of death from such infection. The value of vaccination on the basis of advanced age is not clear at this time. The vaccine will not eliminate all risk of pneumococcal pneumonia and patients with some immune deficiency states may not respond adequately to te vaccine. Revaccination should not be done at intervals of less than five years. More data are needed from adequately designed and executed studies of benefit from the vaccine in healthy elderly persons and high-risk populations. Physicians should pay particular attention ot specific diagnostic needs in pneumococcal infection.