Vaccines for Pneumococcal Disease: What You Need to Know

Every year, a tiny germ sends thousands of people to the hospital, and many of them are young children or older adults. That germ causes pneumococcal disease. The good news is that safe, well-tested vaccines can help protect you and your family.¹

What is pneumococcal disease?

Pneumococcal disease is the name for any infection caused by a type of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus. These bacteria can cause mild problems, like ear and sinus infections. They can also cause serious illnesses, including pneumonia (a lung infection), meningitis (an infection of the lining around the brain and spinal cord), and bacteremia (an infection in the blood).¹

When the bacteria reach parts of the body that are normally free of germs, such as the blood, doctors call it invasive disease. Invasive disease is usually very serious and can sometimes lead to death.²

The bacteria spread from person to person through saliva and mucus, such as when someone coughs or sneezes. Pneumococcal disease is common in young children, but older adults face the greatest risk of severe illness and death.^1,2

What are the pneumococcal vaccines?

Pneumococcal vaccines are shots that help protect the body against these bacteria. Health experts agree that vaccination is the best way to prevent pneumococcal disease.¹

Pneumococcus comes in many different strains, called serotypes. Each vaccine is built to protect against a certain set of serotypes. A helpful clue is in each vaccine's name: the number tells you how many serotypes it covers.³

Types of pneumococcal vaccines

There are 4 pneumococcal vaccines used in the United States, and they fall into 2 groups:^2,3

• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) – This group includes PCV15 (Vaxneuvance), PCV20 (Prevnar 20), and PCV21 (Capvaxive), which protect against 15, 20, and 21 serotypes.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine – This vaccine is called PPSV23 (Pneumovax23). It protects against 23 serotypes.

Doctors choose which vaccine to use based on a person's age and health.²

How do the vaccines work?

The outside of pneumococcus bacteria is wrapped in a coat made of sugars. The vaccines teach the immune system to recognize this sugar coat, so the body can fight the germ before it causes illness.³

PCVs link the sugars to a protein. This “training partner” helps the immune system build a stronger, longer-lasting defense, which is why PCVs work well even in babies and young children.³

The polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) uses the sugars alone, so it is given only to older children and adults. These vaccines work well, but they cannot stop every case.³

Overall, research shows these vaccines are highly effective at preventing serious pneumococcal infections.^2,3

Who should receive the vaccines?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends pneumococcal vaccines for certain age groups and for people with health risks. All children younger than 5 years old should be vaccinated, and so should children 5 through 18 who have certain health conditions.²

For adults, the CDC recommends the vaccine for everyone 50 years and older. In 2024, experts lowered this age from 65 to 50 so that more people would be protected. Adults 19 through 49 who have certain risk conditions should also be vaccinated.^2,6

People who have had a serious allergic reaction to a pneumococcal vaccine or one of its ingredients should talk with a healthcare provider first.²

Vaccines help lower risk

Pneumococcal disease can be mild, but it can also turn dangerous, especially for young children and older adults. Vaccines are a safe and proven way to lower that risk.

Understanding what the vaccines are, the types that are available, how they protect you, and who needs them can help you make smart choices about your health. If you are not sure whether you or a loved one should be vaccinated, talk with a healthcare provider.