Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are recommended to receive pneumococcal vaccine

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are recommended to receive 20vPCV in a 4-dose schedule at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months of age.

The additional dose of pneumococcal vaccine at 6 months of age is recommended because of the high burden of pneumococcal disease in this population.¹

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who have commenced the recommended schedule with 13vPCV or 15vPCV are recommended to complete their schedule with 20vPCV. Following completion of their schedule with at least 1 dose of 20vPCV, no additional vaccine dose is required at 4 years of age.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in NT, QLD, WA and SA who completed their age appropriate PCV schedule with only 13vPCV or 15vPCV are recommended to receive a single dose of 20vPCV at 4 years of age or 12 months after their last PCV dose, whichever is later. Their schedule is now complete and no additional doses are required. If these children have already received a single dose of 23vPPV following 13vPCV or 15vPCV, they are recommended to receive a single dose of 20vPCV at least 5 years after their 1st dose of 23vPPV. These 20vPCV doses replace the previously recommended 23vPPV doses for this population.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in NT, QLD, WA and SA who have completed their PCV schedule with 13vPCV or 15vPCV and received 2 doses of 23vPPV, do not require any supplementary dose of 20vPCV.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in ACT, NSW, Vic and Tas without a risk condition (i.e. previously recommended a 3-dose schedule) who have completed their PCV schedule with 13vPCV or 15vPCV do not require any supplementary dose of 20vPCV.

For catch-up vaccination recommendations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children see:

• Table. Catch-up schedule for 20vPCV for children aged <5 years who are either Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (including those living in ACT, NSW, Tas or Vic born on or after 1 March 2025), or have a risk condition(s) for pneumococcal disease.
• Table. Catch-up schedule for 20vPCV for children aged <5 years who are either non-Indigenous without a risk condition for pneumococcal disease, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in ACT, NSW, Tas or Vic born before 1 March 2025

20vPCV is funded through the NIP for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged <18 years. For details see the National Immunisation Program Schedule.