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 children should receive 3 doses of 20vPCV.

• 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, should receive 4 doses of 20vPCV.

• 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.

Children and adolescents aged over 12 months to 18 years diagnosed with a risk condition should receive a single dose of 20vPCV at diagnosis.

At-risk adults: adults aged over 18 years diagnosed with a risk condition, and 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). Adults with risk conditions should receive their 13vPCV dose at diagnosis.

All 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 for adults.