Differentiating between the effects of different immunosuppressive agents (including those such as systemic steroids and anti‐TNF alpha therapies that are known to reduce vaccine responses) and RA on immunity to S. pneumoniae will need careful serial measurements of serum IgG to S. pneumoniae protein antigens from RA subjects over the disease course and after starting new therapies. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.