Pneumococcal disease: guidance, data and analysis
The characteristics, diagnosis, management, surveillance and epidemiology of pneumococcal disease.
Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).
Infections are either non-invasive or invasive. Non-invasive diseases include middle ear infections (otitis media), sinusitis and bronchitis. Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) includes septicaemia, pneumonia and meningitis.
IPD is a major cause of disease and death globally and in the UK. It particularly affects:
- the very young
- the elderly
- people with no spleen or a non-functioning spleen
- people with other causes of impaired immunity and certain chronic medical conditions
There are more than 90 different pneumococcal types (serotypes) that can cause disease in humans. More than 5,000 cases of IPD are diagnosed each year in England. The number of cases peaks in December and January.
Diagnosis and management
Vaccination
The pneumococcal vaccination programme is changing in early 2026 with the introduction of a 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20), alongside the pneumococcal vaccines in current use - the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23). Recommendations for all three vaccines can be found in the Green Book and the Information for healthcare practitioners’ guidance. Template PGDs to support the pneumococcal programme are also available.
Epidemiology
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) undertakes enhanced surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease. All isolates administered should be referred to the reference laboratory.
UKHSA routinely requires GPs and paediatricians to complete a surveillance questionnaire for all laboratory-confirmed invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) to monitor the impact of the PCV13 (Prevenar 13®).
Changes to Pneumococcal disease statistics
Pneumococcal disease cases by week have been published by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and predecessor bodies at varying cadence since 2014. This publication confirms the weekly case numbers up to week 39 for July to September 2025 to 2026.
Future editions will be published quarterly and will show data by week up to the latest quarter.
If you would like to provide any feedback on these intended changes for 2025 to 2026 please contact the UKHSA’s statistics mailbox: ukhsa_hopstats@ukhsa.gov.uk
Updates to this page
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Added note in Epidemiology section and Vaccination section updated
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Added 'Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine: change to the supply route from June 2021 letter'
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Added 'Pneumococcal disease: cases caused by strains covered by all serotyped IPD and cases caused by strains covered by Prevenar 13 vaccine'.
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First published.