Out of over 90 serotypes, only a small minority cause most disease. There are 3 available pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) that target either 10 or 13 of the most prevalent serotypes.

Currently available PCVs are safe and efficacious. WHO recommends the inclusion of PCVs in childhood immunization programmes worldwide. In particular, countries with high childhood mortality (i.e. under 5 mortality rate of >50 deaths/1000 births) should make the introduction of these multicomponent PCVs a high priority.

In many countries, the routine use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines has dramatically reduced the incidence of serious diseases due to the organism with virtual disappearance of disease due to serotypes of the organism in the vaccines used.