No evidence that vaccination with a polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine protects drug users against all-cause pneumonia

Individuals infected with HIV are at high risk of pneumonia and invasive di sease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae [1]. To date, the effect of vaccin ation with a polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine on this group is unclear. Breiman et at. [2] suggested a protective effect of vaccination on the inci dence of invasive disease, whereas a recent study in Uganda [3] showed an i ncreased risk of invasive disease and no protection against all-cause pneum onia among vaccinees.