What vaccines are available to help prevent invasive pneumococcal disease and flu infections?

 For the prevention of pneumococcal disease, two vaccines are currently available in the United States.

• All children less than 5 years of age should receive pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) according to current recommendations.
• In addition, the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) should be administered to all persons 2-64 years of age with high risk conditions and everyone 65 years and older.
  • Special emphasis should be placed on vaccinating adults under 65 years of age who have established high-risk conditions for pneumococcal disease; PPSV coverage among this group is low and this group may be more likely to develop secondary bacterial pneumonia after a flu infection.
  • For those 19 through 64 years of age, high-risk conditions include: having asthma or smoking cigarettes.
  • For those 2 through 64 years of age, high-risk conditions include: chronic cardiovascular disease (congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathies), chronic pulmonary disease (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema), diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, chronic liver disease (including cirrhosis), cerebrospinal fluid leaks, cochlear implant, functional or anatomic asplenia including sickle cell disease and splenectomy, immunocompromising conditions including HIV infection, leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma, generalized malignancy, chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome; those receiving immunosuppressive chemotherapy (including corticosteroids); and those who have received an organ or bone marrow transplant, and residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities.

CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal flu

• Annual flu vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with certain chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease, neurologic conditions and older adults.
• Seasonal flu vaccine also is important for healthcare workers and other people who live with or care for high risk people to prevent giving the flu to those at high risk.

Last Updated: 11/17/2009

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• How is pneumococcal disease treated in adults during flu season?
• Is the pneumococcal vaccine safe?

• Vaccines
  • Pneumococaccal Vaccine