Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases — Content from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (public domain).
Key points
* CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for children younger than 5 years and adults 50 years or older.
* CDC also recommends pneumococcal vaccination for children and adults at increased risk for pneumococcal disease.
* Stay up to date on which pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for your patients.
Background App available to interpret recommendations CDC offers PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor as a free app to quickly and easily provide patient-specific pneumococcal vaccine guidance. It’s available for download for iOS and Android mobile devices. There’s also a web-based version that doesn’t require a download.PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor The United States uses 2 types of pneumococcal vaccines. Each individual vaccine helps protect against different serotypes of pneumococcal bacteria.
* Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs)
* PCV15
* PCV20
* PCV21
* Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
* PPSV23
The following summarizes CDC’s current age- and risk-based pneumococcal vaccine recommendations. Access the official, full text of CDC’s current and historical pneumococcal vaccine recommendations. Infants and children Routine vaccination CDC recommends routine pneumococcal vaccination for all children younger than 5 years old. Administer a 4-dose PCV series (PCV15 or PCV20), 1 dose at each of the following ages:
* 2 months
* 4 months
* 6 months
* 12 through 15 months
Catch-up guidance CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for children younger than 5 years of age who miss their shots or start the series later than recommended. The number of doses recommended and the intervals between doses will depend on the child’s age when vaccination begins. Job aid for simplifying PCV catch-up Get assistance interpreting table 2 of the child and adolescent immunization schedule. This guidance applies to healthy children 4 months through 4 years of age.View or download the job aid Adults 50 years or older Routine vaccination recommendations Administer PCV15, PCV20, or PCV21 for all adults 50 years or older
* Who have never received any pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
* Whose previous vaccination history is unknown
PCV15: Additional vaccination recommended If PCV15 is used, administer a dose of PPSV23A one year later. Only one dose of PPSV23 is indicated. If PPSV23 was previously administered, another dose isn’t needed. The patient’s pneumococcal vaccinations are complete. The minimum interval is 8 weeks and can be considered in adults with:
* An immunocompromising condition
* A cochlear implant
* A cerebrospinal fluid leak
PCV20 or PCV21: Additional vaccination not recommended If PCV20 or PCV21 is used, a dose of PPSV23 isn’t indicated. Regardless of which vaccine is used (PCV20 or PCV21), the patient’s pneumococcal vaccinations are complete. Recommendation for shared clinical decision-making Based on shared clinical decision-making, adults 65 years or older have the option to get PCV20 or PCV21, or to not get additional pneumococcal vaccines. They can get PCV20 or PCV21 if they have received both
* PCV13 (but not PCV15, PCV20, or PCV21) at any age and
* PPSV23 at or after the age of 65 years old
Job aids for adult pneumococcal vaccination Shared clinical decision-making : This job aid should assist vaccine providers in discussions with older adults considering PCV20 or PCV21 vaccination.Vaccine timing for adults : This job aid should help vaccine providers interpret adult pneumococcal vaccine recommendations. Risk-based recommendations In certain situations, children 2 through 18 years of age may be recommended additional pneumococcal vaccine doses. In addition, adults younger than age 50 years of age may be recommended to receive pneumococcal vaccines. Risk-based indications for pneumococcal vaccination vary by patient age. The type of vaccine and number of doses can also vary by age and vaccination history. Keep Reading Summary of Risk-based Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendations Resources Contraindications and precautions General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization Pink Book chapter on pneumococcal disease Immunization schedules Child and adolescent immunization schedule Adult immunization schedule Pneumococcal Vaccine Information Statements PCV : English | Other languages PPSV23 : English | Other languages