Vaccine for Pneumonia: Frequency and Timing for Medical Assistance Consultation
In the fight against pneumonia, vaccination plays a crucial role in protecting individuals, especially the most vulnerable - children and older adults. Here's a breakdown of the recommended vaccination schedules for different age groups, as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For **children**, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is typically administered in four doses: at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and again between 12 to 15 months of age. However, children with certain health conditions, such as sickle cell disease or asplenia, may require additional doses. After the age of 2, adults only need one dose of PCV13.
**High-risk children** aged 6 weeks to 17 years may need additional dosing depending on their individual risk and immune status. For instance, children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) have specialized schedules starting 3-9 months post-transplant with Pneu-C-20.
For **adults aged 50 years or older**, the vaccination schedule varies based on prior vaccination history. Those who have not received a pneumococcal vaccine or whose history is unknown should receive either PCV15, PCV20, or PCV21, followed by a dose of PPSV23 at least one year later. Adults who have already received PCV13 should get PCV20 or PCV21 at least one year after their last PCV13 dose.
If an adult has received both PCV13 and PPSV23 but not after the age of 65, they should get a dose of PCV20 or PCV21 at least 5 years after their last pneumococcal vaccine dose. Those who have received both vaccines, including PPSV23 at age 65 or older, may, based on shared clinical decision-making, receive another dose of PCV20 or PCV21 at least 5 years after their last pneumococcal vaccine dose.
It's essential to note that if a person over 65 years of age has received one dose of PPSV23 prior to this age, they should wait at least 5 years before getting the second and final dose. If a person over 65 years of age wants both PCV13 and PPSV23, they should get the PCV13 first and wait 1 year to get the PPSV23 shot.
Pneumonia is an infection that causes inflammation in the lung's air sacs, and bacterial pneumonia is more common and results in a more serious illness. Symptoms include cough, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. The pneumonia shot helps prevent invasive pneumococcal diseases, such as meningitis, endocarditis, empyema, and bacteremia.
Mild side effects from both PPSV23 and PCV13 include muscle aches, fever, and reaction at the injection site. However, if a person experiences life-threatening side effects after the pneumonia vaccine, they should seek emergency help immediately.
People under the age of 65 years should receive the PPSV23 vaccine if they smoke, are receiving chemotherapy treatment, or have certain conditions like chronic heart disease, asthma, alcohol use disorder, HIV, or Hodgkin disease.
This schedule reflects the latest CDC recommendations as of 2025 and accommodates different health statuses and prior vaccine histories to maximize immunity against pneumococcal disease.
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