Ask the Experts
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
General information - pneumococcal conjugate
What are the ACIP recommendations for use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine routinely in children?
ACIP recommends that all children receive 4 doses of PCV at ages 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months of age.
What is the catch-up schedule for children who have fallen behind on their PCV doses?
The ACIP recommendations (MMWR 2000; 49 [RR-9]) or www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr4909.pdf contain a table that will help guide vaccination decisions for children with lapsed schedules. The table is reproduced below.
Recommendations for use of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) among children with a lapse in vaccine administration*
Age at exam (mos)

Previous PCV7 vaccination history

Recommended regimen
7–11 1 or 2 doses 1 dose of PCV7 at 7–11 mos, and a dose >2 mos later, at 12–15 mos
12–23

1 dose before age 12 mos

2 doses of PCV7 >2 mos apart

2 doses before age 12 mos

1 dose of PCV7 >2 mos after most recent dose
24–59

Any incomplete schedule

1 dose
(For children with health conditions, see Q&A that follows)

*

Source: Table 11 from CDC's "Preventing Pneumococcal Disease Among Infants and Young Children," MMWR 2000; 49 (RR-9): p.24.
How many doses of PCV vaccine should be given to unvaccinated children age 2 years and older?
Healthy unvaccinated children ages 24 through 59 months should receive 1 dose of PCV. Children with certain chronic diseases or immunosuppressing conditions (e.g., sickle cell disease; anatomic/functional asplenia; chronic cardiac, pulmonary, or renal disease; diabetes; cerebrospinal fluid leaks; HIV infection; immunosuppression; or who have or will have a cochlear implant) should receive 1 dose if they previously received 3 doses or 2 doses separated by 8 weeks if they previously received fewer than 3 doses.

Can PCV be used in children older than age 5 years?
Neither ACIP nor AAP routinely recommend PCV for children 5 years of age or older. However, the vaccine is licensed for use through age 9 years. Some providers may choose to administer PCV to older children who are at highest risk of invasive pneumococcal disease, such as those with HIV infection or anatomic or functional asplenia. The use of PCV in children ages 5 through 9 years of age is not contraindicated.

An 18-month-old received dose #1 of PCV seven days before her first birthday and dose #2 at age 15 months. Does she need a third dose?
A schedule for "lapsed" vaccination can be found in the PCV ACIP statement (MMWR, Oct. 6, 2000; vol. 49, no. RR-9). According to this schedule, a child 12-23 months of age who received one dose of PCV before the first birthday should receive two additional doses after the first birthday. This child needs one more dose now to complete the series.
Do children who are diagnosed with pneumococcal disease still need to receive pneumococcal conjugate vaccine?
Yes. There are several different serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae that cause disease in children. A child who has had pneumococcal disease has only developed antibody against one serotype.
When is it appropriate to give both pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV)?
A child who has received pneumococcal conjugate vaccine AND who has a high-risk condition for which PPSV is recommended, should receive PPSV vaccine as long as they are at least 2 years old and it has been at least 2 months since their last dose of PCV7.
If a physician administers PCV and PPV (pneumococcal polysachharide vaccine) to a high-risk child age 2 years or older, at what intervals should the two vaccines be administered?
ACIP recommends that PCV and PPV be separated by at least 8 weeks. Give PCV first and then wait 8 weeks before giving PPV. For more information, see the ACIP statement on PCV at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr4909.pdf (p. 26-7).
A 2-month-old was mistakenly given PPV instead of PCV. What should be done?
PPV is not effective in children less than 24 months of age. PPV given at this age should not be considered to be part of the pneumococcal vaccination series. PCV should be administered as soon as the error is discovered. Children 5 years and older will generally receive only PPV. Doses of PCV and PPV given at age 2-5 years should be separated by an interval of at least 8 weeks. Anytime the wrong vaccine is given, the parent/patient should be notified.
When should a child undergoing splenectomy receive pneumococcal
vaccine(s)?
It is preferable that the child have antibody to pneumococcus at the time of the procedure, so administer the appropriate vaccine prior to splenectomy if possible. Children 2 through 59 months of age should receive one or more doses of PCV if not up to date already for this vaccination. Children 2 years of age and older should receive PPV regardless of whether they also received PCV.
 
Reviewed on 10/09
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