Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendations for Adults

Introduction to Pneumococcal Vaccination

• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that adults who have received both PCV13 and PPSV23, with PPSV23 administered at age ≥65 years, do not need additional routine pneumococcal vaccination 1, 3, 5
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines state that for adults who have received a complete pneumococcal vaccination series, no additional vaccines are recommended at this time 3, 4

Rationale for Vaccination Recommendations

• The ACIP guidelines provide options for adults who have already received both PCV13 and PPSV23, including shared clinical decision-making for PCV20 or PCV21 administration ≥5 years after the last pneumococcal vaccine dose, but this is not routinely recommended 7, 8
• Adults who have received both PCV13 and PPSV23 (with PPSV23 administered at age ≥65 years) are considered to have completed the recommended vaccination series, and no additional routine pneumococcal vaccination is recommended 5

Timing and Sequence of Vaccination

• The ACIP guidelines do not recommend routine revaccination with PPSV23 after the dose administered at age ≥65 years 5, 6
• The patient's vaccination sequence (PCV13 followed by PPSV23) is in line with current recommendations, and the timing of the vaccinations is consistent with ACIP guidelines 1

Future Vaccination Considerations

• If new pneumococcal vaccines with broader serotype coverage become standard of care with new recommendations, the patient's vaccination status should be reassessed 7, 8
• The most recent 2024 ACIP guidance suggests that for adults who have completed the recommended vaccination series with both PCV13 and PPSV23, shared clinical decision-making could be considered for a single dose of PCV21 or PCV20 ≥5 years after the last pneumococcal vaccine dose 8