Travel itself doesn't increase the risk for pneumococcal infection. However, with limited access to good health care during travel there will be an increased risk of poor outcomes, should the disease occur.

The pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for risk groups travellers: persons aged over 65 years and those with certain conditions that may favour complications of pneumococcal infections, such as asplenia and dysfunctional spleen, chronic heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, chronic liver disease, chronic renal disease, diabetes mellitus, HIV infection, haemoglobinopathies (e.g sickle-cell anemia) and  immunosuppression (including prolonged therapy with systemic steroids).  

There are two diferent types of inactivated pneumococcal vaccine: a 7-valent conjugate vaccine (PnC7) and a 23-valent polysacharide vaccine (PnP23). The PnP23 vaccine is recommended for adults over 65 years and risk groups aged 2 years or over. The PnC7 vaccine is safe and immunogenic in infants and children under 2 years of age.

For PnC7 vaccine, the primary immunization for children under one year of age consist in three doses administered two months apart (months 2-4-6), intramuscularly or by deep subcutaneous injection; children from one year to under two years of age should receive only one dose.

For PnP23 vaccine, both children and adults should receive one dose administered intramuscularly (or subcutaneously for individuals with bleeding disorders).

Pneumococcal vaccines can be administered at the same time as other vaccines such as DTP/Hib/IPV, Influenza, MenC and MMR, but at separate sites, preferably in different limbs.

Fernando Costa Silva, 2006 (last update: 2009)