Pneumococcal vaccination provides protection against infections caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Pneumococcal disease may cause severe illness including pneumonia, bloodstream infection, or meningitis. Pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for all adults 65 years or older.

CDC collects adult pneumococcal vaccination data from the the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). During 2021, 72.9% (95% CI: 70.2-75.7) of adults 65 or older in Connecticut reported ever having had a dose of pneumococcal vaccine, with fairly stead coverage over time. The 2021 U.S. rate was 70.1% (95% CI: 69.5-70.7), the Healthy People 2020 goal is 90%, and the Healthy Connecticut 2020 goal is 71%. Adult vaccination coverage remains low for most routinely recommended vaccines. Awareness of the need for vaccines for adults remains low among the general population. Adult patients rely on health care providers’ recommendations for vaccinations.

Confidence intervals can be seen by hovering over each data point.

These data are current as of Feb 2023.

DPH Immunization Partners

Government: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CT Department of Social Services/Community Health Network (CHN), CT Department of Children and Families, CT Local Health Departments/Districts, Tribal Governments, Health Departments from other states, Emergency Response and Public Health Preparedness

Organizations and Coalitions: Connecticut Vaccine Advisory Council (CVAC), Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Foundation for Children, CT American Lung Association, American Immunization Registry Association (AIRA), Every Child By Two, Association of Immunization Managers (AIM), American Cancer Society

Business and Industry: Pharmaceutical companies that produce vaccines, Immunization Information System (IIS) vendors, electronic health record (EHR) vendors, insurance companies

Health Care: Private and public providers, community health centers, school based health centers, hospitals

Education: Daycares, schools and colleges, Board of Nursing, State Department of Education, Yale School of Public Health

Community Services: CT Department of Social Services, Community Health Network (CHN), Local WIC Offices, tribal services, services for immigrants and refugees, homeless shelters and programs, domestic violence shelters and programs, Hispanic Health Council, Maternal Infant Outreach Program - City of Hartford Health and Human Services (MIOP) , Family Strides, Head Start, Healthy Start, Nurturing Families, Connections, Mom’s Project, Positive Parenting, Project Mother Care, Reach out and Read, Birth to Three, libraries, churches, Community Health Center Family Wellness Center/New Britain, Weston Women’s League, Human Resources Agency of New Britain (HRA), Family and Children’s Agency (FCA) of Norwalk, Spanish Speaking Center, United Way

The Public: Parents and the general public

The Community Preventive Services Task Force and the National Vaccine Advisory Committee recommend that health care providers incorporate vaccination needs assessment, recommendation and offer of vaccination into every clinical encounter with adult patients to improve vaccination rates and narrow the widening racial/ethnic disparities in vaccination coverage. Increase access to vaccination services and remove administrative and financial barriers to vaccination and targeted assessment of practice level vaccination rates with feedback.

Educate medical personnel and the general public on the importance of adult vaccines in preventing serious vaccine preventable diseases.

Use of electronic health records and Immunization Information Systems to collect and track adult immunization data