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Pneumococcal Vaccine

What is pneumococcal disease?

Pneumococcal (new-mow-ka-kl) disease happens when a person gets an infection caused by pneumococcus or Streptococcus pneumoniae, which are bacteria. You can get them when you come into direct contact with an infected person's saliva or mucus. After contact, it can cause the following types of infections:

  • Pneumococcal Pneumonia (a serious lung infection)
  • Pneumococcal Meningitis (a serious infection of the brain and spinal cord)
  • Pneumococcal Bacteremia (a serious infection of the bloodstream)
  • Ear Infection
  • Sinus Infection

Serious infections can cause life-threatening complications. For reference, pneumococcal pneumonia kills 1 in 20 infected people, pneumococcal meningitis kills 1 in 6 infected adults, and pneumococcal bacteremia kills 1 in 8 adults. Luckily, pneumococcal disease and serious pneumococcal infections are entirely preventable because we can protect against them with safe and effective vaccines!


How does the pneumococcal vaccine protect Southwest Florida?

Unfortunately, Children under 5 and adults who are 65 and older experience higher rates of pneumococcal disease. Concerning age, these are our most vulnerable populations here in Southwest Florida. 

Pneumococcal Vaccine FAQ

The CDC recommends the following groups get pneumococcal vaccines if they haven't already:

Children Under 5 - It's recommended that this group receive a 4-dose series with a shot given at the following ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12-15 months. Parents of children who miss a shot or start the series later should consult their healthcare provider for an individualized recommendation.

Adults 65 or Older - This group should be vaccinated if they never received a pneumococcal vaccine or if their vacciantion history is unkown. Depending on the type of pneumococcal vaccine given, your healthcare provider may recommend that you get an additional vaccination at a later date.

At-Risk Children, Adolescents, and Adults (Under 65) - Depending on certain risk factors (like age and vaccination history) your healthcare provider may recommend getting a pneumococcal vaccine.

Most people who get pneumococcal vaccines don't have any serious problems. Those who do usually have the following symptoms depending on the type of pneumococcal vaccine they get:

PCV15 or PCV20

  • Redness, swelling, pain, or tenderness at the injection site
  • Fever or chills
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fussiness (irritability) in young children
  • Tiredness
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches or joint pain

PPSV23

  • Pain or redness at the injection site
  • Tiredness
  • Fever
  • Muscle aches

Clinical pharmacists are available to answer your vaccine questions on Lee Health's MyChart portal.
Just follow the following path: Menu ->  Ask a Question -> Ask a Pharmacist

The information on this page was last verified in August of 2024.

For the latest updates on the Chickenpox Vaccine, check out the CDC's website on Vaccines and Preventable Diseases.

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Protect yourself from preventable diseases!