Recommendations for New Pneumococcal Vaccine Released

The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices has released recommendations for use of the new 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13).

The vaccine is recommended for all children two through 59 months of age and for children 60 to 71 months of age who have medical conditions that increase their risk of pneumococcal disease or complications from the disease.

Supplemental PCV13 vaccine is recommended for children who received seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) and children 6 years through 18 years with high-risk conditions. After completing PCV13, children with high-risk conditions should receive 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) at age 2 or as soon as the condition is diagnosed.

The recommendations address both children who have already begun receiving the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and those who have not begun the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine series.