A summary
What
Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. It can cause severe invasive disease, including meningitis, pneumonia and bacteraemia (similar to meningococcal disease), and non-invasive disease, including otitis media.
Who
Pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for:
- routine vaccination in infants and children
- non-Indigenous adults aged ≥70 years
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged ≥50 years
- children, adolescents and adults with risk conditions for pneumococcal disease
How
Pneumococcal vaccines available in Australia are 13vPCV (13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) and 23vPPV (23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine). The recommended number and timing of doses, and type of vaccine depend on:
- the person’s age
- their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status
- the state or territory they live in
- whether they have conditions that increase their risk of pneumococcal disease
- whether they have received 13vPCV or 23vPPV before
Why
Infants and elderly people have the highest pneumococcal disease burden. Pneumococcal disease disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adults. Pneumococcal disease is more common in people with certain risk conditions.
Personal story
To read Janine’s story of how her son spent 7 days on life support, fighting a disease she had never heard of, please see here.
The vaccine
Pneumococcal vaccines are on the Australian immunisation schedule and are recommended for:
- routine vaccination in infants and children
- all adults aged >70 years
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged >50 years
- children, adolescents and adults with conditions that are associated with an increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease
- Anyone who wants to protect themselves against pneumococcal disease
The schedule is complex, however, and varies between States and Territories within Australia, so please see your GP or immunisation nurse for specific advice.
Further reading
- Australian government information page about Pneumococcal disease
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare information page
- The Australian Immunisation schedule
- The Australian Immunisation Handbook
- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia information page.
- For data showing how routine immunisation has made Pneumococcal disease in toddlers a rare event, have a look here.
Page reviewed August 2021.