Infants diagnosed with certain risk conditions at ≤12 months of age are recommended to receive a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and 23vPPV

In addition to the 3 doses of 13vPCV or 15vPCV routinely recommended for healthy non-Indigenous children <5 years of age, children ≤12 months of age with risk conditions for pneumococcal disease (see Table. Risk conditions for pneumococcal vaccination and eligibility for NIP funding) are recommended to receive:

• an additional dose of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 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.^3-5

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 are already recommended to 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 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 a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 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.

13vPCV (Prevenar 13) and the additional doses of 23vPPV (Pneumovax 23) are both funded through the NIP for people with certain risk conditions. For details see the National Immunisation Program Schedule.