Costa Rica's socialized heath system is now offering vaccines to protect children against the bacteria that cause pneumonia, meningitis, sinusitis, middle-ear infections and other illnesses.

Babies born after Sept. 1 and covered under the health system, known as the Caja, will receive four doses of the vaccine – at two months, four months, six months and 15 months. Babies under 2 born before Sept. 1 will be vaccinated during a day-long event in late April, according to a Casa Presidencial press release.

The Caja will spend ¢4.366 million (about $7.9 million) on the vaccine, which normally costs about ¢55,900 ($100) per dose.

The treatment is free for families covered under the Caja, which includes about 88 percent of the population.