Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPneumococcal DiseaseVaccine TypesVaccine EffectivenessSide EffectsWhen to Get the Vaccine
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Pneumococcal Disease
Vaccine Types
Vaccine Effectiveness
Side Effects
When to Get the Vaccine
Pneumococcal vaccines are the most effective way to protect yourself or your child against pneumococcal disease, and may help prevent infections includingear infections, pneumonia (lung infection), blood infection, and meningitis (infection of the brain lining).
These vaccines are not the same as aflu vaccine. Pneumococcal vaccines protect against a type of bacteria, not a virus such as the flu.
Many babies or young children now get the recommended pneumococcal vaccine series. It is also recommended for all adults age 50 and older who are not known to have previously received a pneumococcal vaccine. People under age 50 may need vaccination if there is no record of the vaccination or if they have a medical condition that increases their risk of pneumococcal disease.
This article will discuss pneumococcal disease, the available vaccines, side effects, and more.
Karl Tapales / Getty Images
For instance, it can causepneumoniain the lungs,bacteremiain the blood, andmeningitisif it invades the covering of the brain. All of these are serious (and can be fatal), especially in children under age 2 and adults 65 and over.The bacterium can also cause ear infections or sinus infections (sinusitis).
The bacterium is transmitted from person to person. You can acquire it from being in close contact with someone else, like from someone sneezing or coughing. Some people may not know they have the bacterium in their nose or throat and inadvertently transmit it to others.
Symptoms of the illness depend on the area affected, although many people have multiple types of pneumococcal infection at the same time. Symptoms can include:
The best way to reduce your risk of pneumococcal disease is vaccination.
Types of Pneumococcal Vaccines
There are four pneumococcal vaccines available. Different vaccines are recommended depending on age and medical status.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has licensed three pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15, PCV20, and PCV21) and one pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) for protection against pneumococcal disease.
What Is a Serotype?
PCV15 and PCV20
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have complex sugar molecules (polysaccharides) unique to different serotypes attached to a protein. The addition of the protein enhances the immune system’s response and memory.
Either PCV15 or PCV20 is given as a routine infant vaccination series.
PCV15, also known as Vaxneuvance, was first licensed for adults in 2021 and was expanded to include all people from age 6 weeks and up in 2022.It protects against 15 serotypes.
PCV20, also known as Prevnar 20, was licensed in 2021 for adults 18 years and older, then in 2023 was recommended for ages 6 weeks and up.It covers 20 serotypes.
PCV21
The CDC recommends Capvaxive for adults 19-49 with certain chronic medical conditions or other risk factors who have not been vaccinated or whose vaccination history is unknown.
Additionally, Capvaxive is recommended for adults aged 50 and older who have not received any PCV or whose previous vaccination history is unknown. Adults aged 65 and older may receive Capvaxive if they have previously been vaccinated with PCV13 and PPSV23.
PPSV23
Two groups may receive PPSV23. If an adult 19 or older receives PCV15, they should also get PPSV23. It may also be given to children 2 through 18 with medical conditions that increase their risk of pneumococcal disease.
PCV15 and PCV20 are still too new to have good data on how effective they are in widespread use.
Pneumococcal vaccines should offer ongoing protection, perhaps for life. The need for an additional pneumococcal vaccine depends on the type of vaccine a person has received and their underlying medical conditions.
If you are concerned about your disease risk, talk with a healthcare provider about your medical situation, vaccination status, and ways to help keep you healthy and safe.
Vaccines Reducing Pneumococcal Disease
Pneumococcal Vaccine Side Effects
Like any other medication or vaccine, there may be side effects from the pneumococcal vaccine. If you do get side effects, they are typically very mild and only last a day or two.
Common side effects include:
Anaphylactic reactions (a severe whole-body allergic reaction) to the shot are possible, but very rare.
If you have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous pneumococcal vaccine or any vaccine containing diphtheria toxoid, do not get a PCV shot.If you have allergies to certain vaccine ingredients, talk with your healthcare provider about the ingredients of these vaccines to make sure you are not allergic to a component.
Who Should Get the Pneumococcal Vaccine and When?
Vaccination is recommended for those at increased risk, including:
Children typically get doses of PCV vaccines at 2, 4, and 6 months, and then once again between 12 and 15 months.
For adults, the timing and type of vaccine depend on whether you have had a previous vaccination or if you have a medical condition that puts you at risk for infection. Talk with a healthcare provider about whether you need additional protection against pneumococcal disease.
You may receive a pneumococcal vaccine at the same time as a flu vaccine.
Summary
Vaccination is the best way to help prevent pneumococcal illness. It is recommended for infants, people aged 50 and older, and children and adults at greater risk of serious pneumococcal disease.
The vaccine is generally well-tolerated. While people vaccinated for pneumococcal disease have ongoing protection, they may need an additional type of pneumococcal vaccine depending on their initial vaccine type and whether they have certain medical conditions that put them at higher risk.
Talk with a healthcare provider about your risk for pneumococcal disease, your medical and vaccination history, and what you can do to keep yourself safe and healthy.
Adult Vaccinations: Which Ones Are Recommended?
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Foundation for Infectious Disease.Pneumococcal disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manual for the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases: chapter 11: pneumococcal.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About pneumococcal vaccines.National Cancer Institute.Serotype.Immunize.org.Pneumococcal vaccines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal vaccination: what everyone should know.Food and Drug Administration.Vaxneuvance.Food and Drug Administration.Prevnar 20.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal Vaccine Safety.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Use of 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine among U.S. adults: recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices—United States, 2024.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Child and adolescent immunization schedule.Kobayashi M, Farrar JL, Gierke R, et al.Use of 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine among U.S. adults: updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - United States, 2022.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71(4):109-117. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7104a1
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Foundation for Infectious Disease.Pneumococcal disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manual for the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases: chapter 11: pneumococcal.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About pneumococcal vaccines.National Cancer Institute.Serotype.Immunize.org.Pneumococcal vaccines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal vaccination: what everyone should know.Food and Drug Administration.Vaxneuvance.Food and Drug Administration.Prevnar 20.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal Vaccine Safety.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Use of 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine among U.S. adults: recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices—United States, 2024.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Child and adolescent immunization schedule.Kobayashi M, Farrar JL, Gierke R, et al.Use of 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine among U.S. adults: updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - United States, 2022.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71(4):109-117. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7104a1
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Foundation for Infectious Disease.Pneumococcal disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manual for the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases: chapter 11: pneumococcal.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About pneumococcal vaccines.National Cancer Institute.Serotype.Immunize.org.Pneumococcal vaccines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal vaccination: what everyone should know.Food and Drug Administration.Vaxneuvance.Food and Drug Administration.Prevnar 20.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal Vaccine Safety.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Use of 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine among U.S. adults: recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices—United States, 2024.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Child and adolescent immunization schedule.Kobayashi M, Farrar JL, Gierke R, et al.Use of 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine among U.S. adults: updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - United States, 2022.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71(4):109-117. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7104a1
National Foundation for Infectious Disease.Pneumococcal disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manual for the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases: chapter 11: pneumococcal.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About pneumococcal vaccines.
National Cancer Institute.Serotype.
Immunize.org.Pneumococcal vaccines.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal vaccination: what everyone should know.
Food and Drug Administration.Vaxneuvance.
Food and Drug Administration.Prevnar 20.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal Vaccine Safety.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Use of 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine among U.S. adults: recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices—United States, 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Child and adolescent immunization schedule.
Kobayashi M, Farrar JL, Gierke R, et al.Use of 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine among U.S. adults: updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - United States, 2022.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71(4):109-117. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7104a1
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
