Which population is a common target for routine pneumococcal vaccination?

• A. Children under 2
• B. Adults older than 65
• C. Adults 18-49 with no risk
• D. Anyone who wants

Answer: (B)

Pneumococcal vaccination is guided by who is most at risk for severe disease. Adults older than 65 are a standard target because the risk of invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia increases with age, and vaccination has been shown to reduce hospitalizations and deaths in this group. While children under 2 are also routinely vaccinated in many programs to protect the youngest and most vulnerable, the question points to a broad, routine public-health target, which is the older adult population. Vaccinating adults 18-49 without risk or anyone who wants vaccination isn’t part of routine recommendations, which focus on age and specific risk factors rather than universal self-referral.