Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV), is a vaccine used to prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) infections such as pneumonia and septicaemia. Pneumovax 23, manufactured by Merck, is the currently licensed PPSV. PPSV is not the same vaccination as the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) that is routinely administered to infants in the US, Canada, and the UK. See further under Children, below.
In the United Kingdom, PPV is recomme...
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Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV), is a vaccine used to prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) infections such as pneumonia and septicaemia. Pneumovax 23, manufactured by Merck, is the currently licensed PPSV. PPSV is not the same vaccination as the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) that is routinely administered to infants in the US, Canada, and the UK. See further under Children, below.
In the United Kingdom, PPV is recommended (as a part of routine vaccination schedules) for those over the age of 65, and also for both children and adults in special risk categories:
In the United States, PPSV is recommended for adults 65 years of age or older, adults with serious long-term health problems, smokers, and children older than 2 years with serious long-term health problems. The World Health Organization recommendations are similar. The WHO does not recommend use of PPV in routine childhood immunization programs.
Approximately half of people who receive PPSV...
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