Pneumococcal vaccination for all Australians

Pneumococcal disease is a rare but serious condition that can cause significant illness, disability and death.

Universal childhood schedule: all non-Indigenous children, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in ACT, NSW, Tas and Vic, should receive 3 doses of 13vPCV.*

• dose 1 at age 2 months,
• dose 2 at age 4 months and
• dose 3 at age 12 months.

At-risk children 12 months or under: all children with risk conditions, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in NT, Qld, SA and WA, should receive 4 doses of 13vPCV* and 2 doses of 23vPPV.

For 13vPCV,*

• dose 1 at age 2 months,
• dose 2 at age 4 months,
• dose 3 at age 6 months and
• dose 4 at age 12 months.

For 23vPPV,

• dose 1 at age 4 years and
• dose 2 at least 5 years later.

Children over 12 months, adolescents and adults of any age diagnosed with a risk condition should receive a single dose of 13vPCV* at diagnosis, and 2 doses of 23vPPV (dose 1 12 months after 13vPCV or at age 4 years, whichever is later, and dose 2 at least 5 years later).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 50 years or over should receive a single dose of 13vPCV,* and 2 doses of 23vPPV (dose 1 12 months after 13vPCV, and dose 2 at least 5 years later).

Non-Indigenous adults aged 70 years or over should receive a single dose of 13vPCV.*

These vaccines are funded under the National Immunisation Program. See the Australian Immunisation Handbook for the list of specified risk conditions that are eligible to receive free pneumococcal vaccines.

See the Australian Immunisation Handbook for more details.

*15vPCV and 20vPCV are available as alternatives to 13vPCV, but are not currently NIP-funded.