Pneumococcal Disease

Who needs to be protected?

The best way to help prevent pneumococcal disease is to get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following groups stay up to date with their pneumococcal disease vaccines:

• Children younger than 5 years
• Children 2 through 19 years with certain risk conditions including chronic heart, liver, kidney and lung disease (including some cases of asthma), cochlear implants, and others
• Adults 19-64 years old with certain risk conditions, including chronic heart, liver, and lung disease, diabetes,
• cigarette smoking, and others
• Adults 65 years or older

What vaccine options are available?

CDC recommends two types of pneumococcal vaccines, pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines, based on age and past pneumococcal vaccination history. Talk to a healthcare provider to determine whether you should get a pneumococcal vaccine and which vaccine is right for you.