Pneumonia (Pneumococcal) Vaccine | Walgreens

Pneumonia is a lung disease caused by streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria that can infect the upper respiratory tract and spread to the blood, lungs, middle ear or nervous system. Pneumonia can be spread from person to person through close contact. According to the CDC, about 320,000 people get pneumococcal pneumonia each year, leading to over 150,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths annually, mostly among the elderly.

Anyone can get pneumococcal disease but children under 2 years of age, people with certain underlying medical conditions, adults ages 65+ and people who smoke cigarettes are particularly at risk. Some of the underlying medical conditions that put people at risk for pneumonia include: diabetes, chronic heart, lung, liver diseases or sickle cell anemia, asplenia and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Specific recommendations around who should receive the pneumonia vaccine—and recommended vaccine schedules—are below.

Vaccines help prevent pneumococcal disease, which is defined as any type of illness caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines available in the United States:

1. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines: Prevnar 20 (PCV20), Vaxneuvance (PCV15) and Prevnar 13 (PCV13)
2. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine Penumovax23 (PPSV23)

To learn more about the pneumonia vaccine from the CDC, download this PDF or visit the CDC website.

Children under 2 years old

The CDC recommends Prevnar 13 (PCV13) or Vaxneuvance (PCV15) for all infants as a series of 4 doses (1 dose at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 through 15 months).

Children 2–18 years old with certain medical conditions

Dosage varies based on medical conditions. Visit the CDC to learn more.

Adults 19 to 64 years of age with certain medical conditions or other risk factors

The CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for adults 19 through 64 years old who have certain chronic medical conditions or other risk factors.

Adults 65+

The CDC recommends the pneumonia vaccine for all adults 65 years and older who have not received a pneumococcal vaccine before or if their previous vaccine history is unknown.

A new update to this recommendation also states that if you previously received Prevnar13 (PCV13) and Pneumovax23 (PPSV23) at least 5 years ago you may be eligible, based on shared clinical decision making with your vaccine provide, for Prevnar20 (PCV20). Talk to your pharmacist for advice about your pneumonia vaccine needs.

• Because of health issues or age, certain people should not receive certain vaccines or should wait before receiving them.
• Children younger than 2 years old should not get Penumovax23 (PPSV23)
• People younger than 19 years old should not get Vaxneuvance (PCV15), or Prevnar 20 (PCV20)
• Anyone who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to the pneumococcal vaccine or to any component of the vaccine should not get another dose. Tell your health care provider if you have any severe allergies.
• Anyone who is moderately or severely ill should probably wait until they recover before getting the vaccine.
• Pregnant women should consult with their OB/GYN before getting vaccinated. While there is no evidence that the pneumonia vaccine is harmful to either a pregnant woman or to her fetus, as a precaution, women with conditions that put them at risk for pneumococcal disease should be vaccinated before becoming pregnant, if possible.

Mild-to-moderate side effects:

• Redness, swelling, pain or tenderness at the injection site
• Fever, loss of appetite, irritability, drowsiness, headache, and chills

• Redness or pain at the injection site
• Fever, muscle aches, and drowsiness

Severe side effects are rare for pneumococcal vaccines but may include allergic reactions, difficulty breathing, wheezing, hives, pale skin, fast heartbeat or dizziness.

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help ease pain and reduce fever. It's extremely rare for these vaccines to cause serious harm or death. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any unexpected or worsening reactions after receiving a vaccine.