Your Child's Immunizations: Pneumococcal Vaccines (PCV, PPSV)

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) protect against pneumococcal infections. The pneumococcus bacterium is a leading cause of serious infections, including pneumonia, blood infections, and bacterial meningitis.

The bacterium is spread through person-to-person contact. So the vaccine not only prevents the infection in children who receive it, it also helps stop the spread of the infection.

Immunization Schedule

PCV immunizations are given as a series of four injections:

first at 2 months of age
then at 4 months, 6 months, and 12-15 months

Healthy kids ages 2 to 5 who miss the first dose or may have missed subsequent doses due to vaccine shortage should still receive the vaccine. Kids ages 2 to 6 who were vaccinated in the past but have immunocompromising conditions (like asplenia, HIV infection, etc.) may need additional doses of PCV. Unvaccinated kids with these conditions between the ages of 7 to 18 might get a single dose. Your doctor can determine when and how often your child needs to be vaccinated.

Kids 2-18 years old should also receive the PPSV vaccine if they have chronic health conditions, including:

heart, lung, or liver disease
diabetes
kidney failure
weakened immune system (such as from cancer or HIV infection)
cochlear implants

Why the Vaccine Is Recommended

Children younger than 2 years old, adults over 65, and people with certain medical conditions are most susceptible to serious pneumococcal infections. The pneumococcal vaccine is very effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death.

Possible Risks

Children who receive a pneumococcal vaccine may have redness, tenderness, or swelling where the shot was given. A child also might have a fever after receiving the shot. There is a very small chance of an allergic reaction with any vaccine.

When to Delay or Avoid Immunization

The vaccine is not recommended if your child:

is currently sick, although simple colds or other minor illnesses should not prevent immunization
has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of a pneumococcal vaccine or to the DTaP vaccine

Caring for Your Child After Immunization

The vaccine may cause mild fever and soreness or redness in the area where the shot was given. Depending on your child's age, pain and fever may be treated with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Check with your doctor to see if you can give either medication, and to find out the appropriate dose.

When to Call the Doctor

Call if your child missed a dose in the series.
Call if a severe allergic reaction or high fever occurs after immunization.

Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: February 2013

Related Resources

National Immunization Program This website has information about immunizations. Call: (800) 232-2522

Immunization Action Coalition This organization is a source of childhood, adolescent, and adult immunization information as well as hepatitis B educational materials.

CDC Immunization: Pre-teens and Adolescents CDC site provides materials in English and Spanish for parents, teens, pre-teens, and health care providers about vaccines and the diseases they prevent.

The History of Vaccines The History of Vaccines is an informational, educational website created by The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the oldest professional society in the United States.

Your Child's Immunizations Immunizations protect your child from potentially fatal diseases. Find out what vaccines your child needs to grow up healthy.

Pneumonia Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by different types of germs, most commonly viruses. Read about the characteristics of various types of pneumonia.

How Do I Know Which Vaccines My Kids Need? Find out what the experts have to say.

Frequently Asked Questions About Immunizations Immunizations have protected millions of children from potentially deadly diseases. Learn about immunizations and find out exactly what they do - and what they don't.

Immunization Schedule Which vaccines does your child need to receive and when? Use this immunization schedule as a handy reference.

How Can I Comfort My Baby During Shots? Find out what the experts have to say.