Infants diagnosed with certain risk conditions at ≤12 months of age are recommended to receive 13vPCV and 23vPPV

In addition to the 3 doses of 13vPCV routinely recommended for healthy non-Indigenous children <5 years of age, children ≤12 months of age with risk conditions for pneumococcal disease (see List. Risk conditions for pneumococcal disease) are recommended to receive:

• An additional dose of 13vPCV at 6 months of age
• a dose of 23vPPV at 4 years of age
• a 2nd dose of 23vPPV at least 5 years after the 1st dose of 23vPPV

This is because of the higher disease burden and the possibility of lower antibody responses in these children.^2-4

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children diagnosed with risk conditions at ≤12 months of age who live in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia already receive these extra doses 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 13vPCV 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 13vPCV after transplantation, followed by 2 doses of 23vPPV. See Table. Recommendations for revaccination after haematopoietic stem cell transplant in children and adults.

See Catch-up vaccination for more details, including minimum intervals between doses.