For Clinicians

Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). Pneumococcus can cause many types of illnesses ranging from otitis media to meningitis. Vaccines to prevent pneumococcal disease include the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13 or Prevnar 13®) and the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23 or Pneumovax 23®).