Invasive pneumococcal disease is a preventable threat. Yet elite athletes remain off the radar for vaccination despite being a risk group 1. This can be due to underlying co-morbidities or the nature of increased and intense travel schedules within the sports community. Athletes are also susceptible to infections due to reduced circulating memory T cells and upper airway dysbiosis. Pneumococcal vaccination is not currently included in the UK’s Green Book guidance for travel-related immunisation, nor is the travelling athlete listed as a risk group in chapter 25 amongst those who should be recommended for pneumococcal vaccination.