| Technically Speaking |
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| Monthly Column by Deborah Wexler, MD |
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| Technically Speaking is a monthly column written by IAC’s Executive Director Deborah Wexler, MD. The column is featured in The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center’s (VEC's) monthly e-newsletter for healthcare professionals. Technically Speaking columns cover practical topics in immunization delivery such as needle length, vaccine administration, cold chain, and immunization schedules. |
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| Check out a recent issue of Vaccine Update for Healthcare Providers. The VEC e-newsletter keeps providers up to date on vaccine-related issues and includes reviews of recently published journal articles, media recaps, announcements about new resources, and a regularly updated calendar of events. |
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| TECHNICALLY SPEAKING |
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| Refresher! Use of Pneumococcal Vaccines in Infants and Children, as well as in Children with Health Conditions |
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| Published
April 2019 |
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Since the licensure of PCV13 (Prevnar 13, Pfizer) in 2010, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has published three sets of recommendations for the use of PCV13 and PPSV23 (Pneumovax 23, Merck) in children. The guidance for high-risk conditions can be complex, but fortunately, a number of organizations have developed detailed materials to help healthcare professionals determine which of the two pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for whom and with what timing.
PCV13 vaccination of infants and young children
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All infants are recommended to receive a primary series of PCV13 at ages 2, 4, and 6 months, followed by a booster dose at age 12–15 months. Children who fall behind
on the schedule should be given "catch-up" vaccinations through age 59 months.
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Children ages 60–71 months with certain health conditions who haven't completed the four-dose series should complete it before their sixth birthday. These health
conditions include (but are not limited to) sickle cell disease, anatomic or functional asplenia, HIV infection, and immunosuppression. For detailed guidance,
see the
ACIP recommendations for the use of PCV13 and PPSV23 in infants and children (12/10/10), as well as the
ready-to-print resources section at the end of this article.
PCV13 vaccination for children 6 through 18 years
Children ages 6 through 18 years who have certain health conditions and are PCV13 naïve should receive a single dose of PCV13. These conditions include
immunodeficiency, sickle cell disease, anatomic or functional asplenia, and CSF leaks, among others. For details,
see ACIP recommendations for use of PCV13 and
PPSV23 in children 6–18 years with immunocompromising conditions (6/28/13) and the resources section
at the end.PPSV23 vaccination for children age 2 through 18 years
Children age 2 years and older who have certain health conditions (in addition to needing PCV13) will also need to receive one or two doses of PPSV23 given at least
five years apart. The number of PPSV23 doses needed depends on the child’s health condition. The PPSV23 dose #1 should be given at least eight (8) weeks after the
PCV13 dose. Consult ACIP pneumococcal vaccine recommendations for children 6–18 years with risk conditions for details.
READY-TO-PRINT MATERIALS ON PCV13 and PPSV23
Immunization Action Coalition
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Catch-Up Guidance for Healthy Children 4 Months through 4 Years of Age: Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine: PCV
California Department of Public Health
Pneumococcal Vaccine Timing — For Children
ADDITIONAL TOOLS
In addition, CDC has released a free mobile app, the
PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor,
to help vaccination providers quickly and easily determine which
pneumococcal vaccines a patient needs and when.
IAC links to ACIP pneumococcal recommendations listed
chronologically. |
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| This page was updated on
April 25, 2019. |
| This page was reviewed on
April 25, 2019. |
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ACIP Recommendations
Vaccine Information Statements 
