[Pneumococcal vaccination--why so rare?].

Pneumococcal infections are common even in 1997 and are still responsible for high mortality rates particularly in groups at high risk. Because of increasing resistance of streptococcus pneumoniae against antibiotics the use of pneumococcal vaccination available so far could be an important preventive measure in particular in patients at high risk. This is demonstrated by means of some proper cases and the current literature.