Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations

Print
Related Pages
On This Page

Below are summaries of recommendations from CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). For the full text of the recommendations, see Pneumococcal ACIP Vaccine Recommendations.

Download “PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor” App for Clinicians
This free mobile app gives clinicians patient-specific pneumococcal vaccination recommendations from anywhere at any time.

Download on the App StoreAndroid app on Google play button

Routine Vaccination of Infants and Children

CDC recommends routine administration of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15 or PCV20) for all children younger than 5 years of age:

  • Give PCV15 or PCV20 to infants as a series of 4 doses, one dose at each of these ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 through 15 months.
  • Children younger than 5 years of age who miss their shots or start the series later should still get vaccinated. The number of doses recommended and the intervals between doses will depend on the child’s age when vaccination begins.
Catch-Up Guidance Job Aid

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Catch-Up Guidance for Healthy Children 4 Months through 4 Years of Age
This job aid should assist clinicians in interpreting table 2 of the child and adolescent immunization schedule.

Vaccination of Adults 65 Years or Older

Routine Recommendation

CDC recommends routine administration of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15 or PCV20) for all adults 65 years or older who have never received any pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or whose previous vaccination history is unknown:

  • If PCV15 is used, this should be followed by a dose of PPSV23 one year later. The minimum interval is 8 weeks and can be considered in adults with an immunocompromising condition†, cochlear implant, or cerebrospinal fluid leak.
  • If PCV20 is used, a dose of PPSV23 is NOT indicated.
  • See Pneumococcal Vaccination: Summary of Who and When to Vaccinate for CDC guidance on vaccination options for adults who have previously received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

Footnote

† Immunocompromising conditions include chronic renal failure or nephrotic syndrome; congenital or acquired asplenia or splenic dysfunction; congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies; diseases or conditions treated with immunosuppressive drugs or radiation therapy, including generalized malignancy, Hodgkin disease, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and solid organ transplant; HIV infection; and sickle cell disease or other hemoglobinopathies.

Recommendation for Shared Clinical Decision-Making

Based on shared clinical decision-making, adults 65 years or older have the option to get PCV20 if they have received

  • PCV13 (but not PCV15 or PCV20) at any age
    AND
  • PPSV23 at or after the age of 65 years old
Shared Clinical Decision-Making Job Aid

PCV20 Vaccination for Adults 65 Years or Older
This job aid should assist clinicians in discussions with patients about this vaccine recommendation.

Vaccination of Older Children and Adults with Certain Indications

In certain situations, children 2 through 18 years of age may need additional pneumococcal vaccine doses. In addition, adults younger than age 65 years of age may be recommended to receive pneumococcal vaccines. See Pneumococcal Vaccination: Summary of Who and When to Vaccinate for all pneumococcal vaccine recommendations by vaccine and age.

Vaccine Options for Adults Who Received an Earlier Conjugate Vaccine

PCV13: Adults who received PCV13 have options on how to complete their pneumococcal vaccine series.

PCV7: Treat adults who received PCV7 the same as people who have never received any pneumococcal vaccines.

Contraindications and Precautions

Do not administer a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to:

  • A person who has ever had a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of PCV7, PCV13, PCV15, or PCV20, or to any vaccine containing diphtheria toxoid
  • A person with a severe allergy to any component of these vaccines

Do not administer PPSV23 to:

  • A person who has ever had a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose
  • A person with a severe allergy to any component of this vaccine

Clinicians may administer pneumococcal vaccines, if the provider and parent or patient deems the benefits of vaccination to outweigh the risks, to:

  • A person who has a moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
Related Pages
Top of Page