Pneumococcal vaccines protect against the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis, blood stream infections, and ear infections, etc.
Pneumococcal Vaccines
The first pneumococcal vaccine was the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23 or Pneumovax 23).
Next came Prevnar, which protect against 7 types of pneumococcal bacteria, and lastly, Prevnar 13.
It is now recommended that all children routinely get three doses of Prevnar 13 at two, four, and six months of age. They get a fourth, booster dose, when they are 12 to 15 months old.
Adults who are at least 65 years old can also get a dose of Prevnar 13.
This is followed 6 to 12 months later by a dose of Pneumovax 23 if they haven’t had one yet.
More on Pneumococcal Vaccines
- Vaccines for Kids with Asplenia
- Vaccines in Special Situations
- Vaccine-Driven Resistance of Bacteria and Viruses
- Why Didn’t Everyone Die with Our 1980s Level of Vaccination Rates
- CDC – 2019-Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) Catch-up Guidance
- ACIP – Use of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine and 23-Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine Among Children Aged 6–18 Years with Immunocompromising Conditions: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
- ACIP – Prevention of Pneumococcal Disease Among Infants and Children—Use of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine and 23-Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine
- Ask the Experts about Pneumococcal Vaccines
- CDC – Pneumococcal Vaccination: What Everyone Should Know
- CDC – PCV13 VIS
- CDC – PPSV23 VIS
- CDC – Pneumococcal ACIP Vaccine Recommendations
- CDC – Pinkbook – Pneumococcal
- FDA – Prevnar 13 (package insert)
- FDA – Pneumovax 23 (package insert)
- A Look at Each Vaccine : Pneumococcal
- History of the Pneumococcal Vaccines