Pneumococcal Disease Prevention & Treatment

Pneumococcal diseases, which include pneumonia , meningitis , and sepsis  caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, are the leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths among children under age five worldwide. 

However, most cases of pneumococcal diseases are preventable  - with existing tools, such as vaccines  - are treatable .  The challenge is to ensure that the most vulnerable children have easy, affordable access to these life-saving interventions.  UNICEF estimates that only half of children with pneumonia are taken to an appropriate healthcare provider, and fewer than one in five receive antibiotics.^₁