Fast Facts You Need to Know about Pneumococcal Disease

1. Pneumococcal disease can be very serious.

• Pneumococcal pneumonia causes an estimated 150,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States.
• Pneumococcal meningitis and bacteremia killed approximately 3,250 people in the United States in 2019.

2. Anyone can get pneumococcal disease.

• Young children and older adults are at increased risk compared to other age groups.
• Certain medical conditions and other risk factors put people at increased risk for pneumococcal disease.

3. CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccines for children and adults.

Children

All children younger than 5 years old and children 5 through 18 years old with certain medical conditions that increase their risk of pneumococcal disease should receive PCV13 or PCV15.

Children 2 through 18 years old with certain medical conditions should also receive PPSV23.

Adults

Adults who have never received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine should receive PCV15 or PCV20 if they

• Are 65 years or older
• Are 19 through 64 years old and have certain medical conditions or other risk factors

If PCV15 is used, it should be followed by a dose of PPSV23.

Adults who received an earlier pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13 or PCV7) should talk with a vaccine provider to learn about available options to complete their pneumococcal vaccine series.

Adults 65 years or older have the option to get PCV20 if they have already received

• PCV13 (but not PCV15 or PCV20) at any age

and

• PPSV23 at or after the age of 65 years old

These adults can talk with their doctor and decide, together, whether to get PCV20.