[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Bacterial and antimalarial vaccines](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/bacterial-and-antimalarial-vaccines/) › Pneumococcal vaccine

[Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) · [Bacterial and antimalarial vaccines](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/bacterial-and-antimalarial-vaccines/)

# Pneumococcal vaccine

Conjugate (for infants and adults) or polysaccharide vaccines against the pneumococcal serotypes that most often cause pneumonia, meningitis and bacteraemia.

Updated 2026-11-01

- Class: [Bacterial and antimalarial vaccines](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/bacterial-and-antimalarial-vaccines/)
- Target: Immune response against the Streptococcus pneumoniae capsule
- ATC code: J07AL02
- WHO Model List of Essential Medicines

Also called: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV)

## Mechanism of action

Protection is serotype-specific: each vaccine contains the capsular polysaccharides of a set of serotypes. The polysaccharide vaccine induces a T-independent response, with no memory and poor in young children. The conjugate vaccine, with polysaccharides linked to a carrier protein, is T-dependent, works in infants and reduces carriage.

- Vaccine supplies capsular polysaccharides from several serotypes
- Protein-conjugated: T-dependent response with memory
- Antibodies opsonise pneumococci for phagocytosis
- Fewer carriers: unvaccinated people are protected too

## Pharmacokinetics

**Onset and duration**
Protection follows the series; polysaccharide vaccine gives no booster response when repeated

## Indications

- Prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia in infants, older adults and risk groups [Community-acquired pneumonia →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/community-acquired-pneumonia/)
- Prevention of pneumococcal meningitis and bacteraemia [Bacterial meningitis →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/bacterial-meningitis/)
- Functional or anatomical asplenia, especially in sickle cell disease [Sickle cell disease →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/sickle-cell-disease/)

## Adverse effects

### Common

- Local pain, swelling or induration
- Fever, irritability, fatigue, headache and muscle pain

### Serious (rare, important)

- Anaphylaxis (very rare)
- Febrile seizure when given together with inactivated influenza vaccine in some children (brief, no sequelae)

## Contraindications

- Previous anaphylaxis to a component or a dose
- Precaution: moderate or severe acute illness

## Key interactions

**Inactivated influenza vaccine**
Given together, they were linked to more febrile seizures in young children during some seasons

## What is monitored

- Risk conditions: asplenia, sickle cell disease, cochlear implant, CSF leak, immunosuppression
- Which vaccine was given before (conjugate or polysaccharide)

## Administration and safety

- Intramuscular route
- Distinguish conjugate from polysaccharide vaccine: they are not interchangeable and have different indications
- Record the product given to plan the sequence

## Nursing care

- Identify risk conditions that justify the vaccine in adults
- Watch for fever in children, especially if other vaccines were given the same day
- Teach the signs of pneumonia and meningitis that need care

## Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Not part of routine vaccination in pregnancy.

## Memory aid

Pneumococcus = "as many capsules as serotypes": the vaccine only covers the serotypes it contains; the conjugate remembers, the polysaccharide doesn't.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Why does the polysaccharide vaccine work poorly in infants?

It induces a T-independent response, weak under two years of age and without memory; infants therefore receive the conjugate vaccine.

## What is serotype replacement?

A rise in disease from serotypes not in the vaccine after vaccine serotypes decline; it happened with serotype 19A after the first conjugate vaccine.

## Which patients with sickle cell disease are at high pneumococcal risk, and why?

All of them, because of functional asplenia: without an effective spleen, encapsulated bacteria are poorly cleared.

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## Related drugs

- [Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/haemophilus-influenzae-type-b-vaccine/)
- [Meningococcal vaccine](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/meningococcal-vaccine/)

## Related conditions

- [Community-acquired pneumonia](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/community-acquired-pneumonia/)
- [Bacterial meningitis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/bacterial-meningitis/)
- [Sickle cell disease](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/sickle-cell-disease/)

[← Back to the class: Bacterial and antimalarial vaccines](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/bacterial-and-antimalarial-vaccines/)

Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Chapter 17: Pneumococcal Disease | Pink Book | CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/pinkbook/hcp/table-of-contents/chapter-17-pneumococcal-disease.html) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021); [Meningitis](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/meningitis) (World Health Organization, 2026); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=J07AL) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026); [eEML - Electronic Essential Medicines List](https://list.essentialmeds.org/) (World Health Organization, 2025).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/pneumococcal-vaccine/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/pneumococcal-vaccine/