Pneumococcal vaccination is indicated for persons 65 years of age and older, because it is up to 75% effective in preventing pneumococcal bacteremia and meningitis. It is also an important vaccine due to increasing antibiotic resistance among pneumococci. In the United States today, vaccine coverage is suboptimal. Although inpatient vaccine screening and administration are recommended, hospitalization is an underutilized opportunity for adult vaccination.

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• American Lung Association
• National Institue of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - National Institutes of Health

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• Bratzler DW, Houck PM, Jiang H, et al. Failure to vaccinate Medicare inpatients: a missed opportunity. Arch Intern Med 2002;162:2349-2356.
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