Pneumococcal Vaccine

Question 1

What are the two types of pneumococcal vaccine in use?

Answer 1

• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV)

Question 2

Who is PCV given to?

Answer 2

Children as part of their routine imunisations (2,4 and 13 months)

Question 3

Who should PPV be given to?

Answer 3

• Offered to all adults over 65 years
• To patients with chronic conditions.

Question 4

Which groups should be vaccinated?

Answer 4

• Asplenia or splenic dysfunction
• Chronic respiratory disease: COPD, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease.
  
  • Asthma is only included if ‘it requires the use of oral steroids at a dose sufficient to act as a significant immunosuppressant’
• Chronic heart disease: ischaemic heart disease if requiring medication or follow-up, heart failure, congenital heart disease.
  
  • NOT HTN.
• CKD
• Chronic liver disease: including cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis
• Diabetes mellitus if requiring medication
• Immunosuppression (either due to disease or treatment). This includes patients with any stage of HIV infection
• Cochlear implants
• Patients with cerebrospinal fluid leaks

Question 5

Most adults usually require just one dose of PPV, but who requires more and how often?

Answer 5

Those with asplenia, splenic dysfunction or chronic kidney disease need a booster every 5 years.