Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) - Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) information for health professionals
Pneumococcal meningitis is a notifiable disease.
Routine vaccination
The Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) Routine Childhood Immunisation Programme coThe Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) provides high levels of protection against the 13 pneumococcal serotypes contained in the vaccine, Prevenar 13 (PCV 13).
Infants should be offered Prevenar 13 as a single primary dose at 16 weeks with a booster dose at 12 to 13 months.
Change of timing for the first dose of PCV
The timing of the first dose of the PCV has been moved from 12 weeks to 16 weeks of age.
In 2025, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended changes to the routine childhood immunisation schedule. According to the updated schedule, the meningococcal B vaccine (MenB) will now be given at 8 and 12 weeks of age, while the first dose of PCV will be given at 16 weeks.
Following a review of data, the JCVI determined that giving the MenB vaccine at 8 and 12 weeks, rather than at 8 and 16 weeks, provides earlier protection against meningococcal disease without compromising long-term immunity. To maintain the number of injections at each visit, the PCV dose previously administered at 12 weeks has been rescheduled to 16 weeks.
The revised schedule is anticipated to enhance safety and may help prevent some cases of illness before the primary vaccination series is completed.
Find out more about changes to the childhood immunisation schedule for health professionals.
Non-routine immunisation
PCV vaccine may be required in individuals who have underlying medical conditions.
Please refer to pneumococcal: the green book, chapter 25 on the UK Government website (external site).
The complete routine immunisation schedule includes information about routine and non-routine vaccinations.
The vaccine
PCV contains polysaccharide from thirteen common capsular types (PCV 13). It is indicated for active immunisation for the prevention of invasive disease, pneumonia and acute otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumonia.
Prevenar 13 (PCV 13) is an inactivated injectable vaccine in a pre-filled syringe presentation.
More information about the vaccine, including eligible groups, dosing and method of administration can be found at Pneumococcal: the green book, chapter 25 on the UK Government website (external site).
Summary of product characterisitics
Schedule guidance in the Green Book chapter 25 on the UK Government website (external site) supersedes the summary of product characteristics.
Guidance
Vaccination programme recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and Welsh Government policy can be found at the links below.
Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on the UK Government website (external site) – read JCVI publications and statements; search e.g. pneumococcal.
Welsh Health Circulars and Welsh Government letters
- Eligibility for non routine immunisations on the Welsh Government website (external site).
- Changes to routine childhood and selective neonatal hepatitis B vaccinations on the Welsh Government website (external site).
Clinical resources and information
- Pneumococcal: the green book, chapter 25 on the UK Government website (external site).
- Changes to the infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccine schedule. Information for health professionals on the UK Government website (external site).
Patient group directions (PGDs) and protocols
PGD templates for vaccines can be found on the patient group directions (PGDs) and protocols website (external site).
Further clinical resources and information
Data and surveillance
- Immunisation surveillance.
- Pneumococcal disease: cases caused by strains covered by PCV13 from UKHSA on the UK Government website (external site).
- Pneumococcal disease: guidance, data and analysis from UKHSA on the UK Government website (external site).
Page last reviewed: 9th October 2025