Infants aged ≤12 months with a risk condition are recommended to receive pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

Infants aged ≤12 months with a risk condition, are recommended to receive 20vPCV in a 4-dose schedule at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months of age. See Table. Risk conditions for pneumococcal vaccination and eligibility for NIP funding.

The additional dose of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine at 6 months of age is recommended because of the higher disease burden and the possibility of lower antibody responses in this population.^3-5

Children with risk conditions who have commenced the recommended schedule with 13vPCV or 15vPCV are recommended to complete their schedule with 20vPCV.

All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are already recommended to receive this extra dose at 6 months of age as part of their routine schedule.

Any child aged 6 to 11 months with a newly identified risk condition who has not received an additional dose of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine at 6 months of age should receive this dose at diagnosis. The exception is children who have received a haematopoietic stem cell transplant — these children are recommended to receive 3 doses of 20vPCV after transplantation. See Table. Recommendations for revaccination after haematopoietic stem cell transplant in children and adults.

20vPCV (Prevenar 20) is funded through the NIP for infants with certain risk conditions. See Table. Risk conditions for pneumococcal vaccination and eligibility for NIP funding. For details see the National Immunisation Program Schedule.