5. Pneumococcal Vaccine
Pneumococcal vaccines protect against Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacteria that can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia (bacterial infection of the bloodstream).7 The two types of pneumococcal vaccines are pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15 and PCV20) and the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23).
There are three pneumococcal vaccines approved for use in the United States:8
| Trade Name | Doses | Age | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pneumovax 23 (PPSV23) | 1 | 2 years and over | IM or SC |
| Vaxneuvance (PCV15) | 1-4 | 6 weeks and over | IM |
| Prevnar 20 (PCV20) | 1 | 18 years and over | IM |
6. Inactivated Poliovirus
Polio is a rare viral infection transmitted through contaminated water or food or direct contact with an infected person. The vast majority of infections occur with no symptoms. Less than 1% of those infected will develop paralytic poliomyelitis, while between 1% and 5% will experience non-paralytic meningitis.9
There is one polio vaccine approved for use in the United States, called Ipol, that is made with an inactivated (dead) virus.10
| Trade Name | Doses | Age | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ipol | 4 | 6 weeks and over | IM or SC |
The live oral polio vaccine, used in the United States for almost 40 years, was discontinued in 2000 due to the potential risk of vaccine-induced poliomyelitis.11