Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a frequent, often progressive, chronic
disease of the lungs. Patients with COPD often have impaired immunity; therefore,
they are prone to chest infections, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Acute exacerbations
of COPD are major events that accelerate disease progression, contributing to its
symptoms’ burden, morbidity, and mortality. Both pneumonia and acute exacerbations
in COPD are caused by bacteria against which there are effective vaccinations. Although
the number of randomised controlled studies on bacterial vaccinations in COPD is limited,
national and international guidelines endorse specific vaccinations in patients with
COPD. This review will summarise the different types of vaccinations that prevent
pneumonia and COPD exacerbations. We also discuss the results of early phase studies.
We will mainly focus on Streptococcus pneumoniae, as this bacterium was predominantly
investigated in COPD. However, we also review studies investigating vaccinations against
Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Bordetella pertussis.
