Brussels, 19/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - According to the conclusions of two scientific panels convened by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in Stockholm, there is enough evidence to support a general Pneumococcal Polysaccharide (PPV23) vaccination strategy for people over 65. Although some knowledge gaps remain on this vaccination, the effectiveness of which on the general population appears to be slight, several studies confirm that it enhances the protection of older people. Following the introduction in several countries of Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV7) vaccination programmes for children, experts recommend careful monitoring of the effects of this vaccination on adults and, particularly, older people. They consider that answers to a number of important questions on the effect of the vaccination have to be provided before its generalised use in Europe could be envisaged. The expert panels' reports can be consulted on http: //http://www.ecde.eu.int (oj)