Pneumococcal vaccine for older adults and people at risk - About the pneumococcal vaccine for older adults and people at risk

Anyone can get a pneumococcal infection, but some people can become very ill if they get it. You or your child should have the vaccine – even if you feel healthy – if you are aged: 

• 65 or over, or 
• Two years or over with a long-term health condition, including:
  • A long-term heart problem that needs regular medicine or treatment. For example, heart failure or heart disease.
  • A long-term chest or breathing problem. Examples include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or severe asthma that needs regular steroids.
  • Diabetes (if medicine is taken for it).
  • Long-term kidney or liver disease.
  • A weak immune system. This may be due to a genetic condition, complement disorder, illness such as HIV, or treatment such as chemotherapy or steroids.
  • A cerebrospinal fluid leak (fluid around the brain and spine leaking due to injury or surgery).
  • No spleen, or a spleen that does not work properly. This includes people with coeliac disease that affects the spleen. It also includes those with blood conditions like sickle cell disease.
  • A cochlear implant (a type of hearing device).   

This is not a full list. If you have a long-term health condition and are not sure whether you or your child should get the vaccine, contact your GP.  

You are also at higher risk of becoming seriously ill and should have the vaccine if you do not have a permanent place to live. For example, if you are:  

• sleeping rough 
• staying in emergency accommodation (e.g., hostel or shelter), or 
• recently homeless and in supported accommodation.  

You should also get the vaccine if you work in a job where you regularly breathe in metal fumes. For example, if you work as a welder. Contact your employer or GP surgery to find out about getting your pneumococcal vaccination.  

Pneumococcal vaccination for babies under two years

All babies are routinely offered the pneumococcal vaccine at:  

• 16 weeks of age, and 
• 12 months of age. 

For more information, visit the pneumococcal vaccination for babies webpage. 

Some babies at higher risk may need extra pneumococcal vaccines. For example, those with: 

• No spleen, or a spleen that does not work properly. 
• A very weak immune system. This may be due to a genetic condition, complement disorder, or treatment such as chemotherapy or steroids.  

If you are not sure if your baby needs these extra vaccines, talk to their specialist doctor or nurse. 

To find out which other vaccines you may be eligible for, see the Routine immunisation schedules for Wales page.

In Wales, two pneumococcal vaccines are available for older adults and people at risk. Both vaccines work well. You can learn more about these vaccines by reading the following patient information leaflets: 

• pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20, Prevenar 20) (external site), and
• pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23, Pneumovax 23) (extermal site). 

You or your child will be offered the vaccine that is recommended at the time of your appointment.  

Some people are at higher risk of pneumococcal disease and may need additional pneumococcal vaccines. For example, people with: 

• No spleen, or a spleen that does not work properly. This includes sickle cell disease. 
• A very weak immune system. This may be due to a genetic condition, complement disorder, or treatment such as chemotherapy or steroids.  

Your specialist doctor or nurse will let you know how many doses are required. 

Most people over the age of 65 and people with certain health conditions only need one dose of the vaccine.

A few people at risk may need further doses. This includes people who have:

• Chronic (long-term) kidney disease.
• No spleen, or a spleen that does not work properly. 
• A very weak immune system. This may be due to a genetic condition, complement disorder, or treatment such as chemotherapy or steroids. 

If you are not sure how many doses you need, ask your doctor or nurse.  

Yes, the pneumococcal vaccine is safe. It meets all safety standards. Once a vaccine is in use, its safety is closely monitored.

Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects, but not everyone gets them. Most side effects are mild and may last a day or two. The most common side effects include:

• Soreness, redness, swelling, warmth or hardening where the injection was given 
• Fever
• Headache
• Joint or muscle pain
• Tiredness

In addition to this, side effects in children may include:

• A change in eating habits
• Irritability
• Drowsiness or more sleep than usual

Reports of all side effects can be found in the patient information leaflet for the vaccine:

• Prevenar 13 suspension for injection (external site)
• Prevenar 20 suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe (external site)
• Pneumovax 23 solution for injection in pre-filled syringe (external site)

Rarely, people can have a severe reaction soon after the vaccination. This can cause breathing difficulties and they may collapse. This is called an anaphylactic reaction, and it can also happen with other medicines and food. These reactions are extremely rare, affecting less than one in a million people. Staff who give vaccinations are trained to manage these reactions. 

People who have an anaphylactic reaction can be successfully treated. They usually recover within a few hours. 

You should report suspected side effects online at Yellow Card (external site). You can also download the Yellow Card app or call 0800 731 6789 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). 

A black triangle symbol on a vaccine or medicine means that it is being closely monitored for any side effects. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you or your child may get. 

If you have any questions about side effects, you can ask the person giving you the vaccine. 

When the vaccine is given to you or your child, the body’s natural defences make antibodies that help to protect against pneumococcal infections.

The pneumococcal vaccine cannot protect against every type of pneumococcal bacteria. However, the vaccine does help protect against the ones that most often cause serious illness.

It is important to know that the pneumococcal vaccine does not protect against meningitis caused by other bacteria or viruses.

Vaccination is one of the best ways to help prevent severe illness caused by pneumococcal disease. No vaccine is 100% effective. Therefore, it is still important to know the signs and symptoms of pneumococcal disease, even if you or your child have been vaccinated. 

For more information about the symptoms of pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis, go to the NHS 111 Wales website:

• Meningitis (external site)
• Sepsis (external site)
• Pneumonia (external site)

Very few people cannot have the pneumococcal vaccination. You or your child should not have the vaccine if you have had a serious (life-threatening) reaction to: 

• a previous dose of the same vaccine, or 
• any ingredient in the vaccine. 

Speak to the person giving you or your child the vaccine if you have had a serious allergic reaction to the vaccine or its ingredients in the past. 

A cold or other minor illness is not a reason to delay your vaccine. 

If you or your child have a high temperature (fever) above 38.5 C, wait until you are better to have the vaccine. However, you should have it as soon as possible. If you cannot attend your vaccination appointment, please cancel it and make a new appointment.