Pneumococcal vaccination: how countries compare
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General information only. Not medical advice and not a substitute for a doctor.
Elsewhere, call your local emergency number.
Each country bases its guidelines on its own evidence reviews and health system. Age Flags lists them side by side and does not judge between them.
United States
| Item | Who it is for | How often / doses | Guideline | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15 or PCV20) Pneumococcal vaccination |
from 2 months until your 5th birthday | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12–15 months · The age range includes catch-up for children who miss doses or start late; how many doses they need depends on their age. | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US) · Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations · CDC immunization schedule Child Immunization Schedule Notes (Recommendations for Ages 18 Years or Younger, United States) |
|
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15, PCV20 or PCV21) Pneumococcal vaccination |
age 50 and over | For adults who have not had a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (or whose history is unknown): one dose; with one of the vaccine options, a dose of a second pneumococcal vaccine follows at least 1 year later (see the CDC notes). | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US) · Adult Immunization Schedule Notes · CDC immunization schedule Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations (for healthcare providers) |
England, UK
| Item | Who it is for | How often / doses | Guideline | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Pneumococcal vaccination |
16 weeks to 1 year | 16 weeks, 1 year | UK Health Security Agency · Changes to the infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccine schedule: information for healthcare practitioners · National programme Pneumococcal vaccine Complete routine immunisation schedule from 1 September 2026 |
|
| Pneumococcal vaccine (PPV23, or PCV20 once PPV23 stock runs out) Pneumococcal vaccination |
age 65 and over | once · A single dose, offered on or soon after the 65th birthday. | UK Health Security Agency · Pneumococcal vaccination for older adults and for individuals in a clinical risk group: information for healthcare practitioners · National programme Pneumococcal vaccine Complete routine immunisation schedule from 1 September 2026 |
China
No national guideline item on this topic could be verified automatically for this country.
Japan
| Item | Who it is for | How often / doses | Guideline | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Pneumococcal vaccination |
from 2 months until your 5th birthday | 2–7 months (standard timing: before 7 months), at least 27 days after the previous dose (standard timing: before 12 months), at least 27 days after the previous dose (standard timing: before 12 months), 12–15 months (standard timing: before 15 months) · Schedule shown for a first dose before age 7 months; children who start later need fewer doses. The booster is given at least 60 days after the primary series. | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan) · 定期接種実施要領 · Set by law 予防接種法施行令（昭和二十三年政令第百九十七号） 子どもの肺炎球菌ワクチン（厚生労働省） |
|
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Pneumococcal vaccination |
from age 60 until your 65th birthday; Disability of heart, kidney or respiratory function that severely limits daily life, or HIV-related immune disability that makes daily life almost impossible (as defined by MHLW ordinance) | once | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan) · 定期接種実施要領 · Set by law 予防接種法施行令（昭和二十三年政令第百九十七号） 高齢者の肺炎球菌ワクチン（厚生労働省） |
|
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Pneumococcal vaccination |
age 65 | once · One dose of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan) · 定期接種実施要領 · Set by law 予防接種法施行令（昭和二十三年政令第百九十七号） 高齢者の肺炎球菌ワクチン（厚生労働省） |
Spain
| Item | Who it is for | How often / doses | Guideline | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Pneumococcal vaccination |
age 65 and over | As set out in the source | Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (Spain) · Calendario común de vacunación e inmunización a lo largo de toda la vida. Calendario recomendado año 2026 · National programme Vacunas y Programa de Vacunación — Enfermedad neumocócica invasiva (Ministerio de Sanidad, ciudadanía) |
Brazil
| Item | Who it is for | How often / doses | Guideline | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Pneumococcal vaccination |
2 months to 4 years | 2 months, 4 months, 12 months · During the switch from PCV10 to PCV20, the first dose and the booster are PCV20 and the second dose is PCV10. Fewer doses are needed when vaccination starts late: a child aged 12 months or older with no earlier doses gets a single PCV20 dose. | Ministério da Saúde (Brazil) · Instrução Normativa do Calendário Nacional de Vacinação 2026 · National programme Calendário Nacional de Vacinação (Ministério da Saúde) |
|
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) Pneumococcal vaccination |
age 85 and over | One dose for older people not previously vaccinated. People aged 60 to 84 who are bedridden or live in an institution (such as a care home) are also offered it. | Ministério da Saúde (Brazil) · Instrução Normativa do Calendário Nacional de Vacinação 2026 · National programme |
Emergency and crisis lines
United States
Emergency 911 Emergency services (United States) · Source
Crisis line 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (United States) · Available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. · Source
United Kingdom
Emergency 999 NHS England · Source
Health advice 111 NHS England · Source
Crisis line 116 123 Samaritans · Open 24 hours a day. · Source
China
Emergency 120 National Health Commission (China) · Source
Crisis line 12356 National Health Commission (China) · Each line provides at least 18 hours of service a day under the national notice; hours vary by city. · Source
Japan
Emergency 119 Fire and Disaster Management Agency (Japan) · Source
Crisis line 0120‑061‑338 #いのちSOS (Lifelink) · Open 24 hours a day, every day (free call). · Source
Crisis line 0120‑279‑338 Yorisoi Hotline · Open 24 hours a day (free call). · Source
Spain
Emergency 112 Emergency services (Spain) · Source
Crisis line 024 Ministerio de Sanidad (Spain) · Free and confidential, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. · Source
Brazil
Emergency 192 Ministério da Saúde (Brazil) · Source
Crisis line 188 CVV — Centro de Valorização da Vida · Free, 24 hours a day, anywhere in Brazil. · Source
Elsewhere, call your local emergency number.