Pneumococcal vaccine
New Pneumococcal Vaccine for children – Prevenar 20®
Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. It can cause severe invasive disease, including meningitis, pneumonia and bacteraemia, and non-invasive disease, including otitis media.
Prevenar 20®
From 1st of September 2025, Prevenar 20® (20vPCV) is the only pneumococcal vaccine funded for children (aged <18 years) under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). Prevenar 20® has replaced both Prevenar 13® and Pneumovax 23® vaccines in the NIP childhood schedule for children aged under 18 years.
Prevenar 20® is a 20 valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (20vPCV) inducing a long-term memory response providing long term immunity. It contains more serotypes than its predecessor Prevenar 13®.
Prevenar 20® protects against 20 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria offering more comprehensive protection against diseases like meningitis, bacteraemia, and pneumonia.
Pneumovax 23® is a polysaccharide vaccine which provides shorter term protection against pneumococcal disease and is no longer used in the childhood schedule.
Important
- Use the correct vaccine. All children now receive Prevenar 20® at the correct schedule points outlined below.
- The vaccines are not interchangeable, and it is imperative that Prevenar 20® is used for the childhood NIP vaccine
- Currently the adult pneumococcal schedule remains unchanged, and they continue to receive Prevenar 13® and Pneumovax 23®.
New NIP Childhood Pneumococcal Schedule
| Childhood Schedule | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 months | 4 months | 6 months | 12 months | |
| All non-Aboriginal infants with no risk conditions | Prevenar 20® | Prevenar 20® | X | Prevenar 20® |
| All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Infants ≤ 12 months | Prevenar 20® | Prevenar 20® | Prevenar 20® | Prevenar 20® |
| Infants aged ≤ 12 months with specified medical risk conditions | Prevenar 20® | Prevenar 20® | Prevenar 20® | Prevenar 20® |
| All children and adolescents aged >12 months to < 18 years diagnosed with specified medical risk conditions |
Prevenar 20®
Single dose at diagnosis | |||
“Catch up” for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander children ≤ 18 years
| Previous pneumococcal vaccine doses | Give now |
|---|---|
| Commenced pneumococcal schedule with Prevenar 13® | Continue schedule with Prevenar 20® |
| Completed 4 dose pneumococcal schedule with Prevenar 13® | Give Prevenar 20® at 4 years of age or 12 months after their last Prevenar 13®, whichever is later. |
| Completed 4 dose pneumococcal schedule with Prevenar 13® AND have had 1 dose Pneumovax 23® | Give Prevenar 20® at least 5 years after their 1st dose of Pneumovax 23® |
| Completed 4 dose pneumococcal schedule with Prevenar 13® AND have had 2 doses of Pneumovax 23® | Do not give Prevenar 20® |
More information
Pneumococcal disease | The Australian Immunisation Handbook
NT Immunisation schedule pneumococcal vaccination PDF (120.8 KB)
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