The present invention is primarily directed to a method for preventing infection of a mammalian subject with S. pneumoniae, wherein said method comprises administering to said subject an effective amount of one or more S. pneumoniae cell wall and/or cell membrane proteins and/or immunogenically-active fragments, derivatives or modifications thereof, wherein said proteins are selected from a defined group of immunogenic proteins. The present invention further provides vaccine compositions containing said cell wall and/or cell membrane proteins.