Hot on the heels of the release of a study demonstrating the cost-saving potential of Wyeth-Lederle's heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 'Prevnar',1researchers at the 5th Annual International Meeting of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) [Arlington, US; May 2000] announced more good news for the vaccine product. According to the results of their modelling study, routine vaccination of infants and children aged < 5 years againstStreptococcus pneumoniaewould substantially reduce the costs of medical treatment and lost productivity related to pneumococcal disease.2These findings have importance for healthcare payers and societies worldwide, sinceS. pneumoniaeis a leading cause of meningitis, bacteraemia, pneumonia, otitis media and sinusitis - diseases which represent a significant economic burden.