Pneumonia (Pneumococcal) Vaccine

The vaccine is meant to protect the people most vulnerable to serious complications, including children, older adults, and people with certain health conditions.

Learn more about pneumococcal vaccines, including how to make sense of the various vaccine types and manage any vaccine side effects.

• All children under the age of 5
• All adults age 50 and older
• People ages 5 to 49 years with certain chronic health conditions or other risk factors

• Alcohol use disorder
• Cerebrospinal (around the brain and spinal cord) fluid leak
• Chronic heart, kidney, liver, or lung disease (including COPD, asthma, and emphysema)
• Cigarette smoking
• Cochlear implant (for people with severe hearing loss)
• Diabetes
• Immunocompromising condition

People with the following immunocompromising conditions should be sure to be vaccinated:

• Damaged spleen or having no spleen
• Disease or condition that weakens the immune system
• Disease or condition treated with medicine that weakens the immune system (including cancer and solid organ transplant)
• HIV
• Kidney failure requiring maintenance dialysis or nephrotic syndrome (a kidney disorder)
• Sickle cell disease or other inherited blood disorders

You should not get a pneumococcal vaccine if you have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to that particular vaccine or any ingredient in the vaccine.

• Have serious allergies of any kind
• Are pregnant

There are two types of pneumococcal vaccine: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCVs) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

These are the three PCV options that are now most commonly used:

• PCV15 (Vaxneuvance)
• PCV20 (Prevnar 20)
• PVC21 (Capvaxive)

One older PCV vaccine that was widely administered in the past, PCV13, is not considered as useful as the newer PCVs.

There is one polysaccharide vaccine: PPSV23 (Pneumovax 23).

Children

Children under age 5 get a four-dose PCV vaccine series, with one dose at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 to 15 months.

Because most serious pneumococcal infections strike children during their first two years of life, the vaccine will protect them when they are at greatest risk.

Adults

Adults typically need one or two pneumococcal shots. Your physician can tell you what pneumonia shots you need based on your age, overall health, risk factors, and prior vaccination history.

Pneumococcal vaccines are considered very effective at defending against severe disease, hospitalization, and even death, but they cannot prevent all cases.

The vaccine is considered very safe, and tracking so far has found that the shots produce only minimal side effects.

Common issues after vaccination are mild and usually go away within a few days. They include:

• Pain and swelling at the injection site
• Limited movement of the injected arm
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Chills
• Decreased appetite
• Generalized muscle pain and joint pain

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction.

For children not covered by any insurance, the federally funded Vaccines for Children program provides vaccines to children whose parents or guardians may not be able to afford them.

Because pneumococcal vaccination is part of the routine childhood immunization schedule, shots are regularly available at pediatric and family practice offices, community health clinics, and public health departments.

• Pneumococcal vaccines are safe and highly effective at helping protect against pneumonia and other pneumococcal infections.
• The shots are recommended as part of routine immunization for children younger than 5 years old and adults 50 or older. People with certain health conditions below age 50 should also get vaccinated.
• There are several choices of vaccination — consult with your healthcare provider to see what’s right for you.