Recommended Vaccines for Adults

Key points

  • CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for many adults based on age, having certain risk conditions, and pneumococcal vaccines already received.
  • Talk to a healthcare provider about what's best for your specific situation.
Healthcare provider and patient looking at something on a tablet during a wellness visit.

Vaccines you may need

In the United States, there are 2 types of vaccines recommended to help prevent pneumococcal disease in adults:

  • Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs)
    • PCV15
    • PCV20
    • PCV21
  • Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
    • PPSV23

Adults who never received a PCV

CDC recommends PCV15, PCV20, or PCV21 for adults who never received a PCV and are

If PCV15 is used, it should be followed by a dose of PPSV23.

Adults who received PCV7 or PCV13

Adults who received an earlier PCV (PCV7 or PCV13) should talk with a vaccine provider. The provider can explain available options to complete the pneumococcal vaccine series.

Older adults who received PCV13 and PPSV23

Adults 65 years or older have the option to get PCV20 or PCV21, or to not get additional pneumococcal vaccines. They can get PCV20 or PCV21 if they've already received both of the following:

  • PCV13 (but not PCV15 or PCV20) at any age
  • PPSV23 at or after the age of 65 years

These adults can talk with a vaccine provider and decide, together, whether to get vaccinated (i.e., receive PCV20 or PCV21).

What vaccines do I need?‎‎

CDC's adult vaccine assessment tool will help you figure out which vaccines you need to protect your health.