Drug information

 

What is Pneumovax 23? What is Pneumovax 23?

What is Pneumovax 23?

Pneumovax 23 (also known as PPSV23) is a vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of disease caused by infection with the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumovax 23 is approved for use in people 50 years of age and older. It is also approved for children 2 years of age and older who are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease.

Streptococcus pneumoniae infection can cause different types of illness, including community-acquired pneumonia. Community-acquired pneumonia can be an opportunistic infection (OI) of HIV. An OI is an infection that occurs more frequently or is more severe in people with weakened immune systems—such as people with HIV—than in people with healthy immune systems. To learn more about OIs, read the HIVinfo What is an Opportunistic Infection? fact sheet.

The Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents With HIV and the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Children With and Exposed to HIV include recommendations on the use of Pneumovax 23 in people with HIV.

What should I tell my health care provider before receiving Pneumovax 23? What should I tell my health care provider before receiving Pneumovax 23?

What should I tell my health care provider before receiving Pneumovax 23?

Before receiving Pneumovax 23, tell your health care provider:

  • If you or your child is allergic to any ingredients in Pneumovax 23, or any other medicines. Tell your health care provider if you or your child has ever had any reactions to a previous dose of Pneumovax 23 or any other pneumococcal vaccine.
  • About any medical conditions you or your child has or has had, including heart or lung problems.
  • If you or your child has a fever.
  • If you or your child has a weakened immune system, takes medicines that might weaken the immune system, or are receiving radiation treatment or chemotherapy.
  • If you or your child are planning to receive any other vaccines at the same time as Pneumovax 23.
  • About any health conditions that may prevent you or your child from receiving medicine by injection.
  • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of receiving Pneumovax 23 during pregnancy.
  • If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. For mothers with HIV in the United States, the Guideline recommends speaking with your health care provider to discuss options for feeding your baby. Mothers with suppressed viral load have a less than 1% chance of transmitting HIV to their baby via their own milk. Although most medicines are safe to use while breastfeeding, some medicines should be avoided. Always let your health care provider know about all the medicines and supplements you are using before you start breastfeeding.
  • About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you or your child are taking or plan to take. Pneumovax 23 may affect the way other medicines or products work, and other medicines or products may affect how Pneumovax 23 works. Ask your health care provider if there are interactions between Pneumovax 23 and the other medicines you or your child take.

How is Pneumovax 23 given? How is Pneumovax 23 given?

How is Pneumovax 23 given?

Pneumovax 23 is given by a health care provider as an injection into the muscle or under the skin. 

Adults with HIV who have never received a pneumococcal vaccine may need one dose of Pneumovax 23, depending on which pneumococcal conjugate vaccine they initially received.

In adults with HIV who have previously started or completed a pneumococcal vaccination series, your health care provider will determine what additional vaccine doses may be needed.

Children (2 years of age and older) with HIV may need one or two doses of Pneumovax 23, depending on their vaccination history. Your child’s health care provider will help to determine how many doses your child needs and when the dose(s) should be given.

Read any printed information that your health care provider gives you about Pneumovax 23.

What side effects can Pneumovax 23 cause? What side effects can Pneumovax 23 cause?

What side effects can Pneumovax 23 cause?

Pneumovax 23 may cause side effects that can be mild or serious. To learn about possible side effects of Pneumovax 23, see the FDA drug label or talk to your health care provider or pharmacist. Tell your health care professional if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some side effects.

You may report vaccine side effects using the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System online.

Where can I find more information about Pneumovax 23? Where can I find more information about Pneumovax 23?

Where can I find more information about Pneumovax 23?

 

 

 

Last Reviewed: March 17, 2025