Pneumococcal vaccine

Vaccines play a crucial role in preventing severe illnesses and their complications. According to data from the CDC, over 47,000 people in the U.S. died of pneumonia, and more than 3,000 died of pneumococcal & meningitis in recent years. However, vaccines like the pneumococcal vaccine can help prevent many of these deaths.

At Aurora Health Care, our goal is to keep you and your family healthy and safe. Our preventive care team offers the pneumococcal vaccine and other routine vaccinations in many convenient locations throughout Wisconsin. We aim to make getting the care you need as easy as possible.

What is the pneumococcal vaccine?

The pneumococcal vaccine is an important immunization that helps protect children and adults from various types of pneumococcal bacteria. These bacteria spread between people through respiratory droplets, causing pneumococcal disease. It can affect different parts of the body, resulting in severe illness, including:

• Bacteremia, a bloodstream infection
• Bacterial meningitis, inflammation and infection in the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord
• Pneumonia, a serious lung infection
• Sepsis, an extreme, life-threatening reaction to an infection

Who needs the pneumonia vaccine?

Experts recommend that babies, older adults and other high-risk people get the pneumococcal vaccine. There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines:

• Pneumococcal conjugate types (PCV13, PCV15 and PCV20) protect against 13, 15 and 20 different types of pneumococcal bacteria, respectively, including the ones most likely to cause childhood infections.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) protects against 23 different types of pneumococcal bacteria.

Your age and health history affect when you need the pneumococcal vaccine. Your pneumococcal vaccine schedule may also vary based on which type of vaccine you get.

Pneumococcal vaccine schedule

Babies should get four doses of either PCV13 or PCV15 at:

• Less than 2 months old
• 4 months old
• 6 months old
• 12 to 15 months old

Your child’s health care provider may recommend getting PPSV23 between ages 2 and 18 if they have other medical conditions that increase their health risks, including:

• A compromised immune system, such as from HIV infection or cancer
• Cerebrospinal fluid leak
• Cochlear implants
• Diabetes
• Kidney failure
• Liver, lung or heart disease

PCV15, PCV20 or PPSV23 may be appropriate for:

• Adults 65 and older
• Adults 19 to 64 with medical conditions that increase their risk of pneumococcal disease

Adults have increased risks of pneumococcal disease if they have:

• Asthma
• Cirrhosis
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• History of alcohol misuse
• History of smoking
• Lung disease

How many pneumococcal shots are required for adults?

Typically, adults need one to two pneumococcal shots. Your health care provider will tell you how many shots you need and when to get them based on several factors, including your age and overall health.

Pneumococcal vaccine side effects

Though rare, side effects after the pneumococcal vaccine are possible. Most people experience mild side effects that disappear within one to two days. You or your child may experience:

• Fatigue
• Fever or chills
• Headaches
• Muscle aches
• Reactions at the injection site, such as redness, swelling or soreness

How long does the pneumococcal vaccine last?

In infants, the protection from the pneumococcal vaccine lasts for several months as their immune system develops. That's why babies get multiple doses over a few months.

In adults, one to three doses of the vaccine will likely provide lifelong protection. Your health care provider will advise you about the specific number of doses needed for long-term immunity.

How often do you need to get a pneumonia shot after 65?

Adults over 65 should receive at least one dose of the pneumonia shot. Depending on your previous vaccinations, you may need additional doses one to five years later.

How long to wait between a pneumonia shot and COVID vaccine?

You can get your pneumonia shot and COVID vaccine at the same time if you like. Studies have shown it’s safe and effective to get the pneumococcal and COVID vaccines together.