Vaccination at the time of discharge from hospital could prevent re-admissions for pneumonia.

There is much overlap between groups at risk influenza and those at risk of serious pneumococcal disease. The time of influenza vaccination is a good opportunity to offer pneumococcal vaccination.

Note that unlike influenza vaccination pneumococcal vaccine is not given annually.

Pneumococcal vaccination rates are low in Europe compared with those in the USA.

There is a lack of awareness among the general public and many medical professionals about the benefits of pneumococcal vaccination.

To ensure the protection of the elderly and ensure other high-risk groups, effective vaccination programmes are needed.

The analysis in this model followed methods recommended by a US government-supported panel.

The clinical effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccination in preventing pneumococcal bacteraemia among elderly persons and other high-risk groups has been demonstrated. (This will be discussed further later.)

This study is important because it shows that vaccination is cost-saving even if only prevention of pneumococcal bacteraemia (not pneumococcal pneumonia) is considered.

S. Pneumoniae is a serious and under-estimated threat to health (leading cause of CAP and meningitis in adults).

The growing prevalence of antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem world-wide.

Certain groups may be at risk of increased frequency or severity of infection.