Accredited free program

This course is accredited (CCCEP #: 8013-2025-4066-I-P) for 1 CEU from October 9, 2025 (expiry: October 9, 2026).

This program is made possible by an independent medical education grant from Merck.

Course curriculum

    1. About the course

    2. How to use the course

    3. Grading and assessment

    4. Copyright

    1. Glossary

    2. All downloads

    1. Learning objectives

    2. Case: Lewis, 66

    3. Streptococcus pneumoniae: An overview

    4. The shifting landscape of serotypes

    5. Is pneumococcal disease seasonal or not?

    6. Pneumococcal disease over the seasons

    7. Case: Back to Lewis

    8. Your terminology matters

    9. Presentation and complications

    10. Facts on pneumococcal disease

    11. Who is at risk of pneumococcal disease?

    12. Medical risk factors

    13. Case: Lewis' COPD

    14. Social, behavioral, and environmental risk factors

    15. Case: Lewis and his vaccination status

    16. What did you recommend for Lewis?

    17. Additional reading

    18. References

    1. Learning objectives

    2. Remember Lewis?

    3. Setting the stage: A review of pneumococcal vaccines

    4. The changing landscape of pneumococcal vaccines

    5. Why have changes been made to vaccine products?

    6. Serotype composition of pneumococcal vaccines

    7. NACI recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination

    8. Case: Back to Lewis

    9. Having the conversation

    10. 5 strategies to support pneumococcal vaccination in your pharmacy practice

    11. What will you change?

    12. Additional reading

    13. References

    1. Final Assessment

    2. Feedback survey

About this course

  • Free
  • 39 lessons
  • Downloadable resources

In this course, you’ll learn about:

The program is delivered completely online. It consists of two modules and takes approximately one hour to complete. 

All users who complete the course (achieving at least 70% on the final quiz) can download a Statement of Completion.

After completing the content, participants should be able to: 

Module 1: Why Canadians Should Care about Pneumococcal Disease

  • Explain how serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae implicated in serious disease can vary geographically, over time, and across different age groups
  • Distinguish temporal trends in cases of pneumococcal disease from trends seen with other vaccine-preventable respiratory infections including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
  • Describe the spectrum of infection severity from asymptomatic carriage to local or systemic disease
  • Identify populations at elevated risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) based on demographic, medical, environmental, and behavioural factors.


Module 2: A practical guide to current pneumococcal vaccine options, recommendations, and patient care strategies

  • Distinguish across available vaccines against pneumococcal disease by serotype coverage, vaccine type, and indications
  • Apply National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendations to patient care decision-making
  • Proactively engage in conversations with patients on pneumococcal vaccination in practice, including identifying and addressing vaccine hesitancy and educating patients on new vaccines and updated recommendations
  • Apply their full scope of practice to encourage pneumococcal vaccination uptake

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Meet Your Instructor

Dr. Sherilyn Houle

Dr. Houle received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Saskatchewan and her PhD from the Department of Medicine at the University of Alberta. She has practice experience in hospital, home care, community pharmacy, and primary-care team settings, including with an international travel and immunizations clinic. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy, with teaching and research interests in pharmacy practice to full scope with a focus on immunizations and travel medicine. She is a sought-after speaker and contributor to continuing professional development programs and policy papers in immunizations and is passionate about supporting all vaccinators in their efforts to optimize population vaccination rates.

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