A vaccine that contains 23 of the known 83 pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides, and induces immunity against Streptococcus pneumoniae, a gram-positive bacterium that causes ear, sinus, lung, blood, and meningeal infections. This vaccine is used to prevent pneumococcal disease in persons with sickle cell diseases; alcoholism; asplenia; chronic heart, lung, liver, or kidney disease; diabetes mellitus; and immunological illnesses; and in people over the age of 65.