Systems Biology of PNEUMOVAX®23 and PREVNAR 13®

Vaccination is the most effective way of preventing infectious diseases. Despite the success of vaccines in general, vaccines induce diminished antibody responses and lower protection in the elderly in particular. This could be explained by a defect in the early responses of an ageing immune system. A better understanding of the basic immunological mechanisms that mediate vaccine efficacy is incomplete. Such information is critical and could greatly decrease both the cost and the time to new vaccine development particularly for the geriatric population. In this trial, the investigators will study the immunologic differences of two FDA approved licensed pneumococcal vaccines between a younger and an older group. Twenty two healthy volunteers between the age of 25-40 and sixty six healthy volunteers between the ages of 60-89 will be enrolled in the study. Each participant in the study will be given one pneumococcal shot. Blood work will be obtained prior to vaccination, one day, three days, seven days, fourteen days, as well as one month and six months after vaccination. Throughout the duration of the study, the participants will be monitored for safety.