Check Who Qualifies for the National Pneumococcal Vaccine Program

Who gets national pneumococcal vaccine support?

According to the Vaccination Helper's guide to national pneumococcal vaccination for adults 65 and over, the program's target is adults 65 and over. For 2026, that means people born on or before December 31, 1961.

The support is one dose of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). The program period is given as year-round, so there are no seasonal start dates like those for the flu and COVID-19.

Why is the program aimed at people 65 and over?

The Vaccination Helper explains that pneumococcus is one of the main bacteria behind invasive infections such as pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis. It says invasive infections occur more often in infants, young children, and adults 65 and over.

The program guidance gives figures of a 60% death rate when bacteremia develops in adults 65 and over, and 80% for meningitis. These are just figures given in the KDCA program guidance and are not values for calculating an individual's risk.

How can you check whether you've already been vaccinated?

The program guidance says no further vaccination is needed if you were vaccinated at 65 or older in the past. So if you aren't sure whether your parents have already had it, check their vaccination history first.

The Vaccination Helper site has a menu for looking up vaccination records. You can also ask the institution where they were vaccinated or the public health center. If they were vaccinated before age 65, this guidance alone can't settle it, so take the vaccination record to a public health center or a doctor.

Where do you need to go to have the cost covered?

Vaccination sites are public health centers (including branches and clinics) and designated medical institutions. The guidance says that if you are vaccinated outside a designated institution, the cost is not covered.

You can find institutions with Find Designated Medical Institutions on the Vaccination Helper site. Inquiries are directed to public health centers and the KDCA call center (1339). The guidance says to check availability before you visit.

What should you do before and after the shot?

The items in the Vaccination Helper's guidance are below.

• Check availability and visit on a day when you are in good health.
• Be sure to get a doctor's pre-vaccination examination before the shot.
• After the shot, stay at the vaccination site for 20 to 30 minutes to watch for adverse reactions before going home.
• Keep the injection site clean.
• On the day of vaccination, avoid drinking alcohol, heavy exercise, and showering, and rest for at least half a day.

What if you have an underlying condition?

The program guidance tells older adults with underlying conditions to first consult the examining doctor about the vaccine type (polysaccharide or conjugate vaccine) and the timing. The pneumococcal infection guidance also says that for high-risk groups the schedule differs depending on earlier vaccination history, so they should talk to a doctor.

This doesn't mean the nationally supported vaccine is the same choice for everyone. Which vaccine is right for you is decided by the doctor treating you, not by this post.

When should you contact a medical institution?

Whether and when your parents can get vaccinated may vary with their underlying conditions, medications, and earlier vaccination history. If you're concerned about these, talk to the doctor at the vaccination site. If you're worried about how you feel after the shot, follow the vaccination site's guidance and contact a medical institution.