Pneumococcal vaccination for people with risk conditions for pneumococcal disease

People with certain conditions have an increased risk of pneumococcal disease. They need extra doses of vaccines to optimise protection.

Anyone over 12 months of age who is diagnosed with a risk condition should receive a single dose of 13vPCV* at diagnosis, plus 1 dose of 23vPPV 12 months after 13vPCV* or at age 4 years, whichever is later, plus a 2nd dose of 23vPPV at least 5 years after the first dose of 23vPPV.

Risk conditions for pneumococcal disease include previous episode of invasive pneumococcal disease, immunocompromising conditions, including asplenia, CSF leak, chronic respiratory disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, cardiac disease, extremely premature birth, trisomy 21, diabetes, smoking, and harmful use of alcohol.

See the Australian Immunisation Handbook for the full list of risk conditions, including which conditions are funded under the National Immunisation Program. Many children and adults with these risk conditions are eligible for funded doses of pneumococcal vaccines under the National Immunisation Program.

See the Australian Immunisation Handbook for more details.

*15vPCV and 20vPCV are available as alternatives to 13vPCV, but are not currently NIP-funded.