In honor of #WorldPneumoniaDay, here are 7 things you need to know about pneumococcal disease: 1. It is a leading cause of serious illness throughout the world. In the US, nearly 1 million adults get pneumococcal pneumonia each year, resulting in up to 400,000 hospitalizations. 2. It is caused by a common type of bacteria, Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) or pneumococcus, which can attack different parts of the body. The bacteria can spread through droplets in the air when a person with the infection coughs or sneezes. 3. It can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis (bloodstream infection), which can lead to severe complications. 4. It can strike quickly and without warning. 5. There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines currently recommended in the US: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). 6. Vaccination helps protect against pneumococcal disease and related complications. Vaccination reduces the chances of becoming ...