The pneumococcal vaccine protects you against infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (also called pneumococcus). Pneumococcus is a bacteria that can cause pneumonia and other infections when it enters your bloodstream or nervous system. You can get it from coming into contact with saliva or mucus from an infected person when they sneeze, cough, or share a drink with you.
Getting the vaccine not only safeguards you against the serious health risks these infections pose, it also helps protect those around you.
There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines: pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15, PCV20, and PCV21) and the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). The number in each vaccine’s name tells you how many strains of pneumococcal bacteria it protects against. Doctors recommend different types for different age groups and risk levels.
In a recent WebMD Reddit AMA, William Schaffner, MD, professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, answered common questions about the pneumococcal vaccine. Below, he expands on these questions to explain why the vaccine is important and who should get it.
What the Pneumococcal Vaccine Protects You From
Pneumococcal vaccination may not get as much attention as some other vaccines you’ve heard of, such as COVID-19, flu, or shingles, but it’s one of the most important protections you can get to prevent serious illness.
The pneumococcal vaccine uses small, harmless pieces of pneumococcal bacteria to teach your immune system to recognize and fight off the real bacteria if it ever comes into your body. This means your body can defend you more quickly than if it had never seen the bacteria, which lowers your risk of serious infections.
“In years past, pneumococcal bloodstream infections were a rather frequent cause of bloodstream infections in young children, and they were associated with a fairly high mortality rate,” Schaffner says. “Now with the routine use of pneumococcal vaccines, the occurrence of those serious infections have been profoundly reduced.”
What’s more, says Schaffner, once the mechanics of the vaccine expanded in the early 2000s so children under 2 could get it, doctors saw an indirect effect on the whole population.
“Studies quickly indicated that they had a profound beneficial effect, not only in the children, but in adults who surrounded them,” says Schaffner. “Not only did the vaccine protect children against serious invasive disease, the strains that were eliminated from children through routine vaccination were no longer transmitted to adults — even those who weren’t vaccinated. It's a marvelous story of the impact of vaccine science in creating healthier environments for everyone.”
In other words, when you get vaccinated, you protect more than just yourself. When fewer people carry and spread the bacteria that causes pneumococcal disease, the whole population benefits.
Who Should Get a Pneumococcal Vaccine?
The pneumococcal vaccine is part of the routine vaccination schedule pediatricians recommend during childhood. But you can — and should — get it as an adult, even if you already had it as a kid. You’re more likely to have severe complications from a pneumococcal disease if you’re very young (under 2), over 50, or live with a chronic condition. These complications can lead to hospitalization, disability, and even death.
Kids under 5 get the vaccine in four rounds, typically at the following ages:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 12-15 months
Adults aged 50 and older should also get the vaccine, either again or for the first time. Adults typically get the vaccine as a single shot. However, if your doctor gives you one particular type (PCV15), you'll need a second vaccine (PPSV23) at least a year later to be fully protected.
"Once you receive your vaccine as an adult … there are no recommendations for revaccination," says Schaffner. "At the moment it's a one and done for adults."
If you’re under 50 and have certain health conditions or risk factors, you may also qualify to get the shot.
These include:
- Health conditions that weaken your immune system, such as HIV
- Sickle cell disease
- Kidney disease
- Missing or damaged spleen
- Cochlear implant
- Cerebrospinal fluid leak
- Lung issues such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema
- Asthma
- Heart disease
You also raise your risk of serious infection if you smoke cigarettes or have an alcohol use disorder.
Are There People Who Shouldn't Get It?
Although some vaccines have a long list of precautions, most people can get the pneumococcal vaccine, says Schaffner.
"There are virtually no contraindications to receiving pneumococcal vaccine," he says.
This includes taking it if you are immunocompromised. Schaffner says it may be slightly less effective for you, but it’s still worth getting.
"We give it to you hoping that you are one of the immunocompromised people who will at least have an immune system that can muster at least a partial response," Schaffner says.
As with any vaccine, if you know you have an allergy to the vaccine, you should talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of getting it.
Show Sources
Photo Credit: E+/Getty Images
SOURCES:
William Schaffner, MD, professor, preventive medicine, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Yale Medicine: “Should I Get the Pneumococcal Vaccine? 5 Things to Know.”
CDC: “Types of Pneumococcal Vaccines,” “Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (Interim) VIS,” “Vaccines and Immunizations: Contraindications and Precautions.”
Mayo Clinic: “How do pneumococcal vaccines work?”
Immunize.org: “Ask the Experts: Pneumococcal.”
