A federal government Website managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Related Websites
Additional Information
Vaccines to Prevent Pneumococcal
There are currently two types of pneumococcal vaccines: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV).
There are more than 90 types of pneumococcal bacteria. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) protects against 13 of them. These bacteria types are responsible for most severe pneumococcal infections among children.
PCV13 is recommended as a series of four doses, one dose at each of these ages:
Children who miss their shots at these ages should still get the vaccine. The number of doses and the intervals between doses will depend on the child’s age. Ask your health care provider for details.
Read the CDC’s Who Needs to be Vaccinated Page or ask your health care provider if your child should receive PCV13, PPSV, or both.
Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria, including those most likely to cause serious disease.
Most healthy adults who get the vaccine develop protection to most or all of these types within two to three weeks of getting the shot. Very old people, children under two years of age, and people with some long-term illnesses might not respond as well, or at all.
One dose of PPSV is recommended for:
People with certain chronic health conditions may be recommended to receive a second dose, five years after their first dose. Ask your health care provider for details.
Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). There are different types of pneumococcal disease, such as pneumococcal pneumonia, blood infections (bacteremia), brain infections (pneumoccocal meningitis), and middle ear infections (otitis media). Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable illness and death in the United States.
Pneumococcus bacteria is in many people's noses and throats and is spread by coughing, sneezing, or contact with respiratory secretions. Why it suddenly invades the body and causes disease is unknown.
Symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia include:
Symptoms of pneumococcal meningitis include:
The symptoms of pneumococcal bacteremia (a bloodstream infection) may be similar to some of the symptoms of pneumonia and meningitis, along with joint pain and chills.
Symptoms of pneumococcal otitis media (middle ear infection) include:
Pneumoccocal infections may be hard to treat because some strains of the bacteria have become resistant to the drugs that are used to treat them. Pneumococcal disease can be fatal. In some cases, it can result in long-term problems, like brain damage, deafness, and limb loss.
Anyone can get pneumococcal disease, but some people are at greater risk than others: