Vaccines help prevent pneumococcal disease, which is any type of illness caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. There are two kinds of pneumococcal vaccines recommended in the United States:
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs, specifically PCV15 and PCV20)
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)
Childhood recommendations
CDC recommends PCV15 or PCV20 for children younger than 5 years old.
Children 2 through 18 years old with certain risk conditions may need more pneumococcal vaccines. It depends on which pneumococcal vaccines they already received and when.
Talk with a vaccine provider if you have questions about pneumococcal vaccines.
Adult recommendations
CDC recommends PCV15 or PCV20 for adults who never received a PCV and are
- Ages 65 years or older
- Ages 19 through 64 years old with certain risk conditions
If PCV15 is used, it should be followed by a dose of PPSV23.
Adults who received an earlier PCV (PCV7 or PCV13) should talk with a vaccine provider. The provider can explain available options to complete the 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 a vaccine provider and decide, together, whether to get PCV20.
