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Pneumococcal meningitis is a notifiable disease.
Pneumococcal disease is a respiratory infection often presenting as pneumonia or acute otitis media, which can become invasive causing bacteraemia or rarely meningitis.
Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, of which there are many different serotypes, and mainly affects the very young and very old.
The organism is spread by respiratory droplets and has a poorly defined incubation period which may be as short as one to three days.
The Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) provides high levels of protection against the 13 pneumococcal serotypes contained in the vaccine, Prevenar 13 (PCV 13).
The timing of the first dose of the PCV has been moved from 12 weeks to 16 weeks of age.
In 2025, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended changes to the routine childhood immunisation schedule. According to the updated schedule, the meningococcal B vaccine (MenB) will now be given at 8 and 12 weeks of age, while the first dose of PCV will be given at 16 weeks.
Following a review of data, the JCVI determined that giving the MenB vaccine at 8 and 12 weeks, rather than at 8 and 16 weeks, provides earlier protection against meningococcal disease without compromising long-term immunity. To maintain the number of injections at each visit, the PCV dose previously administered at 12 weeks has been rescheduled to 16 weeks.
The revised schedule is anticipated to enhance safety and may help prevent some cases of illness before the primary vaccination series is completed.
To find out more about these changes, go to:
Changes to the childhood immunisation schedule - Information for health professionals
PCV vaccine may be required in individuals who have underlying medical conditions.
Please refer to Pneumococcal: the green book, chapter 25 - GOV.UK (external site).
The Complete Routine Immunisation Schedule includes information about routine and non-routine vaccinations.
PCV contains polysaccharide from thirteen common capsular types (PCV 13). It is indicated for active immunisation for the prevention of invasive disease, pneumonia and acute otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumonia.
Prevenar 13 (PCV 13) is an inactivated injectable vaccine in a pre-filled syringe presentation.
More information about the vaccine, including eligible groups, dosing and method of administration can be found at Pneumococcal: the green book, chapter 25 - GOV.UK (external site)
Schedule guidance in the Green Book chapter 25 (external site) supersedes the summary of product characteristics.
Vaccination programme recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and Welsh Government policy can be found at the links below.
Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation - GOV.UK (external site) (read JCVI publications and statements; search e.g. pneumococcal)
Online courses and training materials about a number of vaccines and diseases can be accessed via the E-learning page.
Further immunisation training information and resources are provided on the Training Resources and Events page.
Pneumococcal: the green book, chapter 25 - GOV.UK
PGD templates for vaccines can be found on the Welsh Medicines Advice Service (external site) PGDs page.