Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs)

Routine vaccination:
  • Minimum age: 6 weeks
  • Both PCV10 and PCV13 are licensed for children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age. Additionally, PCV13 is licensed for the prevention of pneumococcal diseases in adults >50 years of age and in the 6-18 years age group.
  • PCV 10 (Serum Inst) is recommended for the primary series at 6-10-14 weeks by the DCGI, while the WHO and IAP, additionally, recommends it for usage in the 2nd year
  • Primary schedule (For all 3 PCV preparations): 3 primary doses at 6, 10, and 14 weeks with a booster at age 12 through 15 months.
Catch-up vaccination:

          Administer 1 dose of PCV13 or PCV10 to all healthy children aged 24 through 59 months who are not completely vaccinated for their age.

  • For PCV 13: Catch up in 6-12 months: 2 doses 4 weeks apart and 1 booster; 12-23 months: 2 doses 8 weeks apart; 24 months & above: single dose
  • For PCV10: Catch up in 6-12 months: 2 doses 4 weeks apart and 1 booster; 12 months to 5 years: 2 doses 8 weeks apart
Vaccination of persons with high-risk conditions:
  • PCV and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine [PPSV] both are used in certain high-risk group of children.
  • For children aged 24 through 71 months with certain underlying medical conditions, additional dose/s of PPSV 23 is recommended. The first dose of PPSV 23 should be given at least 8 weeks after the last dose of PCV 13, For those who have received at least 3 doses of PCV 13, administer 1 dose of PCV13, followed by 1 dose of PPSV23 after 8 weeks. For those who have received less than 3 doses of PCV 13, administer 2 doses of PCV13 at least 8 weeks apart, followed by PPSV23 at least 8 weeks later.

For those who are immunocompromised, administer the 2nd dose of PPSV23, 5 years after the 1st dose of PPSV23.