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Despite adults aged over 50 and those with specific chronic health conditions being at a much higher risk of severe disease and mortality from invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), access to public immunisation programmes is challenging. While strong childhood programmes are in place, fewer than half of European countries ensure funding for adult pneumococcal vaccination, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe.

Furthermore, surveillance on IPD cases and vaccination coverage are heterogeneous across Europe, making it difficult to compare data. The reported incidence of IPD in Europe ranges from 0.4 to 20 cases per 100,000, and these large variations are likely to reflect both the true differences as well as differences in diagnostic and surveillance practices. Although most countries report on childhood pneumococcal vaccination coverage, immunisation data for at-risk groups and older adults in Europe is also sparse.

To better understand pneumococcal vaccination across the continent, ILC has developed an online interactive atlas that showcases coverage and recommendations in 42 European countries. The atlas includes detailed profiles of each country to paint a better picture of pneumococcal vaccination across the life course and the current gaps in national immunisation programmes.

The Pneumococcal Vaccination Atlas initiative has been developed with the support of MSD and has been produced in partnership with the Coalition for Life Course Immunisation.