Pneumococcal vaccine protects against infections caused by bacteria called pneumococcus. Examples of these infections include pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis.
Who is at risk of pneumococcal infection?
Vaccination is recommended for groups of people who have a higher risk of pneumococcal infection, such as young children and older people.
Vaccination is also recommended for people at high risk of pneumococcal infection because they have a serious or long-term medical condition. For example, if you have:
- had your spleen removed, or your spleen doesn't work properly,
- a serious breathing problem, such as severe asthma,
- a serious heart condition, such as congenital heart disease,
- a chronic lung condition,
- severe kidney disease,
- long-term liver disease,
- diabetes that needs medication, or
- a lowered immune system, for example, due to cancer treatment or HIV.
Pneumococcal vaccines
There are two types of pneumococcal vaccine:
- pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), and
- pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV).
PCV
As part of the childhood vaccination programme, PCV is offered to all children at two months, four months and 13 months.
PPV
All adults aged 65 and over are offered PPV. It’s also recommended for people at high risk of a pneumococcal infection (see above).
Although PPV can be given at any time of the year, many people find it convenient to have PPV at the same time as their seasonal flu jab. Studies have shown that it’s safe to give both vaccines at the same time.
Most adults need only one dose of PPV. However, some people may need booster doses, for example, if their spleen doesn’t work properly, or they have a chronic kidney condition. Booster doses are usually required every five years.
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