Adults: Protect Yourself with Pneumococcal Vaccines

Many adults may be at increased risk for pneumococcal disease and not know it. Two vaccines provide protection against this serious and sometimes deadly disease. Talk to your clinician to make sure you are up to date on these and other recommended vaccines.

Each year in the United States, pneumococcal disease kills thousands of adults. Thousands more end up in the hospital because of pneumococcal disease. It can cause severe infections of the lungs (pneumonia), bloodstream (bacteremia), and lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Vaccines are the best way to prevent pneumococcal disease.

Two vaccines help prevent pneumococcal disease:

PCV13 (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine)
PPSV23 (pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine)

PCV13 protects against 13 strains of pneumococcal bacteria and PPSV23 protects against 23 strains of pneumococcal bacteria. Both vaccines provide protection against illnesses like meningitis and bacteremia. PCV13 also provides protection against pneumonia.