The pneumococcal vaccine protects against serious and potentially fatal pneumococcal infections. It’s also known as the pneumonia vaccine.
Pneumococcal infections are caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and can lead to pneumonia, septicaemia (a kind of blood poisoning) and meningitis.
At their worst, they can cause permanent brain damage, or even kill.
Who should have the pneumococcal vaccine?
A pneumococcal infection can affect anyone. But some people are at higher risk of serious illness, so it’s recommended they’re given the pneumococcal vaccination on the NHS.
These include:
- babies
- adults aged 65 or over
- children and adults with certain long-term health conditions, such as a serious heart or kidney condition
Find out who should have the pneumococcal vaccine
How often is the pneumococcal vaccine given?
Babies receive 3 doses of pneumococcal vaccine at:
- 8 weeks
- 16 weeks
- 1 year
People aged 65 and over only need a single pneumococcal vaccination. This vaccine is not given annually like the flu jab.
People with a long-term health condition may need just a single one-off pneumococcal vaccination or vaccination every 5 years, depending on their underlying health problem.
The different types of pneumococcal vaccine
The type of pneumococcal vaccine you’re given depends on your age and health. There are 2 types.
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is used to vaccinate children under 2 years old as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme. It’s known by the brand name Prevenar 13.
Read the patient information leaflet for Prevenar 13.
Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) is given to people aged 65 and over and people at high risk because they have long-term health conditions.
Read the patient information leaflet for PPV.
Children at risk of pneumococcal infections can have the PPV vaccine from the age of 2 years onwards.
The PPV vaccine is not very effective in children under the age of 2.
