Pneumococcal vaccine

Vaccines are an important part of preventing severe illnesses and their complications. In recent years, data from the CDC shows that over 47,000 people in the U.S. died of pneumonia, and more than 3,000 died of pneumococcal meningitis. But vaccinations such as the pneumococcal vaccine could prevent many of these deaths.

At Advocate Health Care, we aim 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 the Chicago metro area. We make it easy to get the care you need, including a pneumonia shot.

What is the pneumococcal vaccine?

The pneumococcal vaccine, also called the pneumonia vaccine, is an immunization that protects children and adults against many types of pneumococcal bacteria. Pneumococcal bacteria spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. Depending on which parts of the body become infected with pneumococcal disease, people can experience 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 infants, older adults and some high-risk people get the pneumococcal vaccine. There are two types of pneumonia vaccines:

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

Your age and health history affect when the pneumococcal vaccine is recommended. Vaccine schedules may also vary based on which type of pneumonia vaccine you get.

Pneumococcal vaccine schedule

Infants 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 risk, such as:

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?

Adults typically need one to two pneumococcal shots. Your provider will let you know what pneumonia shots you need and when based on your age, overall health and risk factors.

What are the side effects of pneumonia vaccine?

Pneumonia vaccine side effects are rare but do happen. Any side effects are typically mild and go away within one to two days. You or your child may experience pneumonia vaccine side effects such as:

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

How long does the pneumococcal vaccine last?

In infants, protection from the pneumococcal vaccine lasts only several months while babies build up immunity to the bacteria. That’s why babies need multiple doses of the pneumonia vaccine a few months apart.

In adults, one to three doses of the pneumococcal vaccine will likely last the rest of your life. Your health care provider will let you know how many vaccine doses you need to stay protected.

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

Adults over 65 need at least one dose of the pneumonia shot. Depending on what vaccines you’ve received before, you may need more 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.