Pneumococcal 13-valent vs 15-valent: Who Should Get Vaccinated?

This year’s flu outbreak has been serious, hasn’t it? Influenza itself can threaten our daily lives, but because there is a risk of complications that can follow the flu, older adults and people with underlying conditions should be careful. This is because pneumonia can occur as a sequel to the flu. That is why it is emphasized that people with weakened immunity should get vaccinated against both influenza and pneumococcus.

Pneumococcus, one of the main causes of pneumonia, is a type of Gram-positive, hemolytic streptococcus and can cause pneumonia. In addition, it can cause various infectious diseases such as meningitis, otitis media, and sinusitis. Vaccination is important for influenza and pneumonia. Today, let’s learn about pneumococcal vaccines and the differences between the 13-valent and 15-valent pneumococcal vaccines.

Do you really need the pneumococcal vaccine?

Pneumonia has many different causes, so it is difficult to prevent all of them.

Even just the main causative bacterium, pneumococcus, has about 90 serotypes, so it is difficult to prevent every cause with a single vaccine.

Even so, pneumococcal vaccination is necessary. Vaccines can be broadly divided into the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine and the 13-valent conjugate vaccine.

Each vaccine has different mechanisms and characteristics, and the recommended recipients may vary depending on age and health status. There is no separate fixed vaccination period, and it is best for people with weakened immunity or those in high-risk groups to be vaccinated in advance.

Differences between pneumococcal 13-valent and 15-valent vaccines

Pneumococcal vaccines can be divided into 13-valent, 15-valent, and other vaccines depending on the number of serotypes. Recently, with the development of the 15-valent conjugate vaccine, it has often been compared with the existing 13-valent vaccine. The differences between the pneumococcal 13-valent and 15-valent vaccines can be found in the following points.

Pneumococcal 15-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PCV15)

It is characterized by a broader preventive range because it includes more serotypes.

It is said to provide additional protection against serotypes 22F and 33F, which are important in adults, beyond the serotypes included in PCV13. Serotypes 22F and 33F are reported to be among the causes of invasive pneumococcal infections in adults. It can be used from children to adults and is also said to be effective in preventing acute otitis media.

Pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV13)

It contains 13 serotypes.

It includes serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F. It has limited effectiveness against serotype 3 and can be used in both children and adults.

PCV15 can prevent a broader range of invasive pneumococcal disease than the existing PCV13, and it has also demonstrated stable effectiveness in clinical trials involving immunocompromised patients. It is also possible to use PCV15 to complete the remaining doses after an existing PCV13 vaccination, and immune effectiveness can be maintained even with cross-vaccination.

Target groups for pneumococcal vaccination

So far, we have looked at the differences between pneumococcal 13-valent and 15-valent vaccines.

Older adults aged 65 and over are at higher risk of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by pneumococcus.

In particular, the risk of death is higher in older adults, so extra caution is needed.

Therefore, if you are 65 or older, you may be eligible for pneumococcal vaccination. Vaccination is available at commissioned medical institutions nationwide and public health centers, and vaccination support may be provided.

General eligibility

• Seniors aged 65 and older

• If vaccinated before age 65: revaccination is possible at least 5 years after the last vaccination date.

• For patients with immunocompromised status, functional or anatomical asplenia, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, or cochlear implants, vaccination after consultation with the attending medical staff is advisable.

• Recommended vaccine types

• 13-valent conjugate vaccine: may be considered first for immunocompromised patients and people with underlying conditions.

• 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine: generally available free of charge for those aged 65 and older.

Even with vaccination, complete prevention is not possible, but it can help prevent pneumonia from progressing to a severe form. For seniors aged 65 and older or patients with chronic illnesses, which can be fatal, it is advisable to get vaccinated with the pneumococcal vaccine.

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