Patient/caregiver was instructed regarding schedule of pneumococcal vaccinations as follows:
- PCV13 vaccine administered into the muscle, is usually recommended for children younger than 2 years of age. This vaccine is given to children in 4 doses at 2, 4, 6, and 12 through 15 months of age. This vaccination offers protection against protection against 13 of the approximately 90 types of pneumococcal bacteria causing the most serious types of pneumococcal illnesses in children, such as, pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia.
- All adults 19 through 64 years of age with certain chronic medical conditions and especially those with no history of receiving a pneumococcal vaccine in the past or those with unknown vaccination history, could receive pneumococcal vaccinations. These medical conditions could include chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease, poorly controlled diabetes, and chronic smoking adults. If the physician chooses them not to receive PCV13 vaccine at their 65 years of age, these individuals could receive one dose of PPSV23 vaccine between 19-64 years of age, followed by a second dose of PPSV23 at 65 years or older. The administration of second dose of PPSV23 must be at least 5 years later to the administration of the first. If the physician chooses them to receive PCV13 vaccine at their 65 years of age, these individuals could receive PPSV23 vaccine between 19-64 years of age, followed at least one year later by one dose of PCV13 at 65 years or older. Then these individuals could receive a second & final dose of PPSV23, at least one year later to the receiving of PCV13 and at least 5 years later to the dose of PPSV23 they had between 19-64 years of age, which completes the course of pneumococcal vaccines and offers a life-time protection.
- All adults 19 through 64 years of age with immunocompromised medical history and especially those with no history of receiving a pneumococcal vaccine in the past or those with unknown vaccination history, could receive pneumococcal vaccinations. Individuals with immunocompromised medical history could include individuals with chronic renal failure, HIV infection, absence of spleen, cancer diagnoses, organ transplant history, chronic immunosuppressive steroid use, bone marrow suppression, cochlear implants, and CSF leaks. These individuals could receive one dose of PCV13 pneumococcal vaccine between 19 and 64 years of age, followed by one dose of PPSV23 at least 8 weeks after receiving the PCV13. These individuals could receive a second dose of PPSV23 at least 5 years after receiving first dose of the same. A third and final dose of PPSV23 could be administered at least 5 years after receiving second dose of the same, which completes the course of pneumococcal vaccines in these individuals and offers a life-time protection.
- All adults 65 years and above without any immunocompromise history, especially with no history of receiving a pneumococcal vaccine in the past or those with unknown vaccination history are recommended to receive the pneumococcal vaccinations. If the physician chooses to administer one dose of PCV13 pneumococcal vaccine before receiving the PPSV23 pneumococcal vaccine, these individuals could receive one dose of PCV13 vaccine to start with. This will be followed at least one year later by a dose of PPSV23 vaccine. PCV13 and PPSV23 vaccines should never be co-administered. If the physician chooses to skip administering PCV13 vaccine before receiving the PPSV23 vaccine, these individuals could directly receive one dose of PPSV23 vaccine. Once a dose of PPSV23 is received, usually no further doses need be considered.
- All adults 65 years and above without any immunocompromised history, regardless of previous history of pneumococcal vaccination, could receive one dose of PPSV23. Once a dose of PPSV23 is received, usually no further doses need be considered. For adults 65 years and above, who have received one dose of PPSV23 but not any of PCV13, the physician could choose to administer one dose of PCV13 at least one year later to receiving the PPSV23. If the physician chooses to skip administering the PCV13 vaccine, then their series for pneumococcal vaccination is complete and no more doses are needed.
