From the Guidelines
Pneumonia vaccine boosters are recommended at different times depending on your age and health status, with the most recent guidelines suggesting that adults 65 and older who previously received the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13 or PCV15) should receive a booster with the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) one year after the initial dose, as stated in the 2024 study 1. For adults 19-64 with certain chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease who received PCV13/PCV15, a PPSV23 booster should follow after at least 8 weeks, according to the guidelines provided in the study 1. Some key points to consider include:
- Adults aged ≥65 years who have received both PCV13 and PPSV23 but have not yet received a final dose of PPSV23 at age ≥65 years are recommended to complete their pneumococcal vaccine series by receiving either a single dose of PCV20 or PPSV23, as recommended in the study 1.
- Immunocompromised individuals may need more frequent boosters, typically every 5 years, as suggested in the study 1.
- For healthy adults who received PPSV23 before age 65, a one-time booster is recommended at age 65 or later, provided at least 5 years have passed since the previous dose, as stated in the study 1. These timing recommendations maximize immune protection against pneumococcal bacteria, which can cause serious pneumonia, and the spacing between doses allows your immune system to develop optimal memory responses while minimizing side effects from too-frequent vaccination, as supported by the studies 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
3 Revaccination The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommendations for revaccination against pneumococcal disease for persons at high risk who were previously vaccinated with PNEUMOVAX 23. Routine revaccination of immunocompetent persons previously vaccinated with a 23-valent vaccine, is not recommended.
The pneumonia vaccine booster should be considered for persons at high risk who were previously vaccinated with PNEUMOVAX 23, as per the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) 2. However, routine revaccination of immunocompetent persons previously vaccinated with a 23-valent vaccine is not recommended.
- Key points:
- Revaccination is recommended for persons at high risk.
- Routine revaccination is not recommended for immunocompetent persons.
From the Research
Pneumonia Vaccine Booster
- The provided study 3 does not directly address the question of when to get a pneumonia vaccine booster, but it does discuss the effectiveness of different pneumococcal vaccines in adult patients in Canada.
- According to the study 3, the 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV21, V116) provides significantly greater coverage than other vaccines (PCV15, PCV20, and PPSV23) for adults, including older adults, across all Canadian geographic regions.
- The study 3 also notes that the eight unique serotypes covered by V116 account for a higher proportion of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) isolates in patients aged 65 years and older compared to younger adults.
- However, there is no specific information in the study 3 regarding the timing of pneumonia vaccine booster shots.
- It is essential to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice on pneumonia vaccine boosters, as the recommended schedule may vary depending on individual factors, such as age, health status, and vaccination history.