neumonia vaccines help prevent invasive

pneumococcal diseases. How often a person should get

the shot depends on their age and overall health.

Pneumonia is an infection that causes inflammation in the lung’s air sacs. The
inflammation can cause the sacs to fill with pus or fluid. Typical symptoms include
cough, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing.

There are two types of pneumonia: bacterial and viral. According to the American
Lung Association, bacterial pneumonia is more common and results in a more serious
illness.

Pneumonia is common among children and older adults, but according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people over the age of 65 years are most
at risk for serious illness or death.

In this article, we look at more information about the pneumonia vaccine and when a
person should receive it.

Types of pneumonia shots

Share on Pinteres t A doctor may recommend a pneumonia shot to anyone with underlying health conditions.

A pneumonia shot will not reduce pneumonia. However, it helps prevent invasive

pneumococcal diseases, such as meningitis, endocarditis, empyema, and bacteremia,
which is when bacteria enter the bloodstream.

Noninvasive pneumococcal disease includes sinusitis.

There are two types of pneumonia shots available. Which type a person gets depends
on their age, whether or not they smoke, and the presence of any underlying medical
conditions.

The two types are:

 Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13): Healthcare providers recommend

this vaccine for young children, people with certain underlying conditions, and
some people over the age of 65 years.
  Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23): Healthcare providers
recommend this vaccine for anyone over 65 years of age, people with certain
underlying conditions, and people who smoke.

According to the CDC, PCV13 protects children and others against 13 different

strains of bacterial pneumonia. PCSV23 protects older adults and others who need it
against 23 different strains of bacterial pneumonia.

When should a person get the shot? 

How often a person should get the pneumonia vaccine depends on their age and
overall health.

The CDC recommend the following schedules:

 Infants should receive the PCV13 vaccine at 2, 4, 6, and 12–15 months.

 Adults only need one dose of PCV13.
 A single dose of PPSV23 is sufficient for anyone who needs it, such as those
over 65 years of age and people with underlying health conditions.

A person under the age of 65 years should receive the PPSV23 vaccine if they smoke,
are receiving chemotherapy treatment, or have any of the following conditions:

 chronic heart disease
 asthma
 alcohol use disorder
 HIV
 Hodgkin disease
A person can get both vaccines if they have any of the above conditions or any of the
following:

 cerebrospinal fluid leak

 cochlear implants
 anatomic or functional asplenia, which is when the tissue of the spleen does
not work

However, the CDC recommend that if people need to have both vaccines, they should
get them in separate visits.

Who should not get the vaccine?

People should not get the vaccine if they have had a life threatening allergic reaction
to a previous dose.

Additionally, a person should not undergo vaccination if they have had an allergic
reaction to medication containing diphtheria toxoid or an earlier form of the
pneumonia vaccination (PCV7).

Lastly, people who are sick or have allergic reactions to any of the ingredients of the
vaccine should talk to a doctor before getting the shot.

How effective are they? 

Although the pneumonia shots will not prevent a person from ever getting pneumonia,
they may help in reducing cases of invasive pneumococcal diseases.

At least one dose of PCV13 protects:

 roughly 8 in 10 babies from invasive pneumococcal disease

  45 in 100 adults 65 years or older against pneumococcal pneumonia
 75 in 100 adults 65 years or older against invasive pneumococcal disease

One dose of PCSV23 helps protect about 50–85 out of 100 healthy adults against
invasive pneumococcal disease.

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What happens if a person gets

another vaccine too soon?
If a person receives a second pneumonia shot too soon, they may experience worse
side effects than someone receiving the vaccine for the first time. In particular, severe
localized, arthritis-like reactions are more frequent.

The general CDC guidelines for people who are 65 years of age or older vary,
depending on the type of vaccine.

If a person received one dose of PPSV23 prior to the age of 65 years, they should get
one final shot after this age. However, they should wait until it has been at least 5
years since the first shot. For example, if they received their first shot at 62 years of
age, they should wait until they are 67 years old for the second and final dose.

If a person wants both PCV13 and PPSV23 after the age of 65 years, they should get
the PCV13 first and wait 1 year to get the PPSV23 shot. If they have already received
the PPSV23, they should wait at least 1 year before getting the PCV13 shot.

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Side effects
Most people who get the pneumonia vaccine will not experience any side effects.
However, as with any medication or vaccine, there is a risk that a person will develop
side effects. These side effects typically disappear after a few days.

Some potential mild side effects from PCV13 include:

 fever
 a reaction at the injection site, such as swelling, redness, or pain and
tenderness
 irritability
 loss of appetite
 a headache
 chills
 feeling tired

Some potential mild side effects from PPSV23 include:

 muscle aches
 fever
 a reaction at the injection site, such as tenderness, redness, or swelling
With PCV13, there is some risk of seizure in young children if they receive the shot at
the same time as a flu vaccine. A parent or caregiver should talk to a doctor about the
best times to get each shot.

When to see a doctor

A person who is over 65 years of age should talk to their doctor about which
pneumonia vaccine may be best for them. The doctor can help determine whether they
should get the vaccination, which vaccination to get, and when to get it.

Parents and caregivers of young children should talk to a pediatrician about the
schedule for the pneumonia vaccination. The pediatrician can also address any
questions or concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccination.

A person does not need to see a doctor for mild reactions to the vaccine, such as
tenderness at the injection site, fever, or fatigue.

However, if a person experiences any life threatening side effects, they should seek
emergency help immediately.

Signs and symptoms of allergic reactions in children may include:

 respiratory distress, such as wheezing

 abdominal pain
 vomiting
 low blood pressure
 irregular heartbeat

Allergic reactions in adults can lead to:

  respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing
 labored breathing
 persistent coughing
 vomiting
 abdominal pain
 low blood pressure
 chest pain

Summary
The pneumonia vaccination is a safe and effective way to help prevent some of the
most severe cases of pneumonia.

Healthcare providers recommend the shot for infants, people with weakened immune
systems, and those who are over 65 years of age. People who have certain medical
conditions or are allergic to the vaccine should not get the shot.

Pneumonia vaccination may cause mild side effects in some people, but these should
go away on their own within a few days.

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Last medically reviewed on March 27, 2020

  Respiratory
 Flu / Cold / SARS
 Immune System / Vaccines
 9 sourcescollapsed

Medically reviewed by Angela M. Bell, MD, FACP — Written by Jenna Fletcher on March 27, 2020

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