Pneumococcal Disease in Adults and the Vaccines That Prevent It

Pneumococcal disease covers a wide range of infections caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). In adults it can be mild or serious — sometimes deadly. Two types of vaccine protect against it; ask a healthcare provider whether they recommend them, or any other vaccines, for you.

Mild and serious infections

• Mild: ear and sinus infections — though they can rarely lead to serious infections or complications.
• Serious, even deadly:

Bacteraemia and meningitis are the deadliest kinds.

Adults at higher risk

• Age: adults 50 or older.
• Conditions: certain chronic conditions, conditions that weaken the immune system, and other factors such as cigarette smoking.

The vaccines

Two types are used in the United States for adults: conjugate vaccines and a polysaccharide vaccine.

Never vaccinated against pneumococcus? CDC recommends a conjugate vaccine — PCV15, PCV20 or PCV21 — for:

• all adults 50 or older;
• adults 19 through 49 at increased risk.

If PCV15 is used, it should be followed by a dose of the polysaccharide vaccine PPSV23.

Vaccinated before? Adults who had an earlier conjugate vaccine (PCV13 or PCV7) should talk with a vaccine provider about how to complete the recommended series.

Adults 65 or older who have had both PCV13 (but not PCV15 or PCV20), at any age, and PPSV23 at 65 or older may choose to get PCV20 or PCV21, or no more pneumococcal vaccines — a decision to make together with a vaccine provider.

Other vaccines help too

Flu and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) infections raise the chance of pneumococcal disease. A yearly flu vaccine helps keep you healthy, and an RSV vaccine is available for certain adults.

Side effects

Pneumococcal vaccines are safe, but side effects can happen. Adults have reported mild ones:

• redness, pain and swelling where the shot was given;
• fatigue;
• headache;
• mild fever and chills;
• muscle pain.

Life-threatening allergic reactions to either type are rare.

Sources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Pneumococcal Disease in Adults and Vaccines to Prevent It." https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/prevent-pneumococcal-factsheet/index.html
• The death rates come from the fact sheet's infographic, which is not reproduced.
• Rewritten in hubnx's own words.