The pneumonia vaccine is recommended at two main stages of life: during infancy (starting at 2 months old) and again at age 50 or older. Certain health conditions and lifestyle factors can also qualify younger adults for vaccination earlier. The CDC recently lowered the routine adult recommendation from age 65 to age 50, so many people who previously didn’t qualify now do.
Routine Vaccination for Children Under 5
All children younger than 5 are recommended to receive pneumococcal vaccination. The standard series begins at 2 months of age, with additional doses given during the first two years of life. This childhood series protects against the strains of bacteria most likely to cause pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections in young kids. Your pediatrician will typically include these shots as part of the regular well-child visit schedule alongside other routine immunizations.
Adults 50 and Older
If you’re 50 or older and have never received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (or don’t know whether you have), the CDC now recommends getting one. The options currently available for adults include PCV15, PCV20, and PCV21, all of which protect against the bacterial strains most commonly responsible for serious pneumococcal disease. You only need one dose if you’ve never been vaccinated before.
This is a notable change. For years, routine pneumococcal vaccination didn’t kick in until age 65. The threshold was lowered to 50, meaning millions of additional adults now fall into the recommended group. If you’re between 50 and 64 and assumed you weren’t due for a pneumonia shot yet, it’s worth checking with your doctor.
Younger Adults With Risk Factors
Adults younger than 50 can still qualify for the pneumonia vaccine if they have certain medical conditions or risk factors. The CDC maintains a specific list of conditions that make pneumococcal disease more likely or more dangerous, and people with any of these conditions are recommended for vaccination regardless of age.
Conditions that qualify adults of any age include:
- Immune system problems: HIV, sickle cell disease, a missing or nonfunctional spleen, conditions requiring immunosuppressive drugs or radiation therapy, and other acquired or inherited immune deficiencies
- Chronic organ disease: chronic kidney failure, chronic liver disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathies (though not high blood pressure alone)
- Chronic lung conditions: COPD, emphysema, and asthma
- Diabetes
- Cochlear implants or cerebrospinal fluid leaks
- Smoking or alcoholism
If you smoke cigarettes, for example, you’re eligible for the vaccine well before age 50. The same goes for anyone living with asthma, diabetes, or chronic heart disease. These aren’t obscure conditions, so a significant number of adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s qualify without realizing it.
What Medicare Covers
Medicare Part B covers pneumococcal shots at no cost to you, as long as your provider accepts Medicare assignment. You won’t owe a copay or deductible for the vaccine itself. If your doctor recommends additional doses beyond what Medicare considers standard, though, you could face out-of-pocket costs, so it’s worth confirming coverage before any extra shots.
If You Were Vaccinated Years Ago
The current recommendation for adults 50 and older specifically applies to people who have never received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or whose vaccination history is unknown. If you received an older type of pneumonia shot years ago (such as PPSV23, which was commonly given to adults 65 and older), you may still be recommended for one of the newer conjugate vaccines. The newer formulations cover a broader range of bacterial strains, so a previous shot doesn’t necessarily mean you’re fully protected. Bring up your vaccination history at your next appointment so your provider can determine whether an additional dose makes sense for you.