What the Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) protects against
Protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae, a common bacterium that causes ear infections, sinusitis and pneumonia, and less often meningitis and bloodstream infection.
Also known as: Prevenar 13, PCV15, PCV20, Synflorix
Why children are given it
Pneumococcal pneumonia is one of the biggest causes of death in children under five worldwide. The vaccine has sharply cut severe disease and also reduces antibiotic-resistant infections.
From each country's official schedule, checked against its sources (last full check 2026-09-16). Tap a country for its whole schedule and a personalised timeline.
| Country | Routine doses |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 16 weeks (1st of 2) Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) 1 year (12-13 months) (2nd of 2 (booster))
Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) |
| 🇺🇸 United States | 2 months (1st of 4) Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV15/PCV20) 4 months (2nd of 4) Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) 6 months (3rd of 4) Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) 12 to 15 months (4th of 4)
Pneumococcal booster (PCV) |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 2 months (1st) Pneumococcal conjugate (Pneu-C-13/15/20) 4 months (2nd) Pneumococcal conjugate 12 months (Booster)
Pneumococcal conjugate booster Also offered: Hepatitis A, extra pneumococcal and other vaccines - Infancy and childhood. Recommended for children with certain medical conditions, and routinely in some northern and Indigenous communities. |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 2 months (from 6 weeks) (1st) Pneumococcal (Prevenar 20) 4 months (2nd) Pneumococcal (Prevenar 20) 12 months (Booster)
Pneumococcal (Prevenar 20) |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 6 weeks (1st of 2 + booster) Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) 14 weeks (2nd) Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) 9 months (Booster (3rd))
Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) booster |
| 🇮🇳 India | 6 weeks (1st of 2 + booster) Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV-1) 14 weeks (2nd) Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV-2) 9 to 12 months (Booster)
Pneumococcal conjugate booster (PCV-B) |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | 2 months (1st of 2 + booster) Pneumococcal conjugate 4.5 months (2nd) Pneumococcal conjugate 15 months (Booster)
Pneumococcal conjugate booster |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 2 months (1st of 2 (+1)) Pneumococcal conjugate 3 months (premature babies only) (Extra dose) Pneumococcal conjugate (premature) 4 months (2nd) Pneumococcal conjugate 11 months (Booster)
Pneumococcal conjugate booster |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 2 months (1st of 2 + booster) PCV (pneumococcal) 6 months (2nd) PCV (pneumococcal) 13 months (Booster (3rd))
PCV booster |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 6 weeks (1st of 2 + booster) Prevenar (pneumococcal, PCV) 5 months (2nd) Prevenar (pneumococcal, PCV) 12 months (Booster (3rd))
Prevenar (pneumococcal) booster |
| 🇫🇷 France | 2 months (1st of 2 (+ booster)) Pneumococcal conjugate 4 months (2nd) Pneumococcal conjugate 11 months (Booster (3rd))
Pneumococcal conjugate booster |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 3 months (1st of 2 + booster) Pneumococcal (PCV) 5 months (2nd) Pneumococcal (PCV) 12 months (Booster (3rd))
Pneumococcal (PCV) booster |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 2 months (1st of 2 + booster) Pneumococcal 10-valent 4 months (2nd) Pneumococcal 10-valent 12 months (Booster)
Pneumococcal 10-valent booster |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 2 months (from 6 weeks) (1st of 2 + booster) Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13) 4 months (2nd) Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13) 6 months (Booster (3rd))
Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13) booster |
Good to know
- Pneumococcal bacteria cause ear infections and pneumonia, and less often meningitis and blood infections. Pneumococcal pneumonia is one of the biggest causes of death in under-fives worldwide.
- Different countries use vaccines that cover different numbers of pneumococcal types (for example PCV13, PCV15 or PCV20).
- Several countries have moved to fewer doses because newer vaccines give strong protection with a shorter course.
Side effects: what is normal
- Soreness, redness or swelling where the injection was given.
- A mild fever, sleepiness or being off their food for a day or two.
Most side effects are mild and pass within a day or two. Get medical advice straight away if your child has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or mouth, a fit, a temperature of 38°C or more in a baby under 3 months, or you are worried in any way. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Your doctor, nurse, health visitor or pharmacist can advise on your own child.
It depends on the country. Across the 14 countries that include it on their routine schedule, the first dose is given from 6 weeks to 16 weeks. In the UK it is given at 16 weeks, 1 year (12-13 months). In the US it is given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 to 15 months. The table on this page shows every country.
Routine schedules give 2 to 4 doses in childhood, depending on the country and the product used. Combination vaccines can mean one injection counts towards several diseases.
Yes - all 14 countries on this site include it on their routine childhood schedule, although the ages and number of doses differ.
Yes. Vaccines on the childhood schedule are given by age, not by sex - girls and boys receive the same doses at the same ages.
It is almost never too late to catch up, and a missed dose rarely means starting again - your doctor or nurse will continue from where your child left off. A few vaccines (such as rotavirus) have upper age limits. Contact your clinic to book a catch-up appointment.
- United Kingdom - NHS / UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
- United States - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / ACIP
- Canada - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) / National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)
- Australia - Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - National Immunisation Program (NIP)
- South Africa - National Department of Health - Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI-SA)
- India - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
- Russia - Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation - National Preventive Vaccination Calendar
- Germany - Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute / ECDC
- Ireland - Health Service Executive (HSE) / National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC)
- New Zealand - Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora / Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)
- France - Ministere de la Sante / Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS) - calendrier vaccinal
- Netherlands - RIVM - National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Rijksvaccinatieprogramma)
- Brazil - Ministerio da Saude - Programa Nacional de Imunizacoes (PNI)
- Singapore - Ministry of Health (MOH) / Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) - National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS)
- NHS - Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) (side effects and more)
- NHS - NHS vaccinations and when to have them
- CDC - Possible side effects from vaccines
- WHO - Vaccines and immunization
How we research and check this information: our editorial policy.
More vaccine guides
MMR vaccine · Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine · 6-in-1 vaccine · Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine · Polio vaccine · Hib vaccine · Hepatitis B vaccine · Rotavirus vaccine · MenB vaccine · MenACWY and MenC vaccines · HPV vaccine · Children's flu vaccine · BCG (tuberculosis) vaccine · Hepatitis A vaccine · RSV protection for babies
All vaccines A to Z · Compare two countries · Moving country with a child