Alberta Health Services
Health Information
The PNEU-C20 vaccine protects against 20 strains (types) of the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae that cause pneumococcal disease.
Getting this vaccine depends on your age, risk of serious disease, and whether you have already had pneumococcal vaccines.
Your healthcare provider may recommend you get this vaccine if:
Health problems that put you at high risk of serious pneumococcal disease include:
If you are age 18 years or older and you have already had other pneumococcal vaccines, you may not need PNEU-C20 vaccine. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if you have had all the doses of pneumococcal vaccines you need or if you can get this vaccine now or in the future.
You may not be able to get this vaccine if:
If you have allergies or have had a side effect from this vaccine, check with your doctor or a public health nurse before you get the vaccine.
Although you can get the vaccine if you have a mild illness, such as a cold or fever, you should stay home until you are feeling better to prevent spreading your illness to others.
If you can get this vaccine, the number of doses you need depends on your age.
Most people age 25 months or older need 1 dose.
Children age 24 months and younger need more than 1 dose depending on their age when they start this vaccine. Because of the high risk of serious pneumococcal disease in this age group, it is not recommended to delay this immunization.
If your child hasn't had all of their pneumococcal vaccine doses as part of their routine immunizations, the PNEU-C20 vaccine can be used to complete their series. If your child has completed their pneumococcal vaccine series using a different pneumococcal vaccine, they are recommended to get a dose of PNEU-C20.
Ask your healthcare provider how many doses your child needs.
Pneumococcal conjugate 15 vaccine (PNEU-C15) protects against 15 types of the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae that cause pneumococcal disease. It is part of Alberta's routine immunization schedule for children who are not at high risk for serious pneumococcal disease.
You can get the vaccine at your local public health or community health centre. You may also be able to get it from your doctor or pharmacist.
You can get a PNEU-C20 vaccine at the same time, any time before, or any time after most vaccines. However, certain vaccines have a waiting period. Check with your healthcare provider about when you can get the PNEU-C20 vaccine if:
The PNEU-C20 vaccine protects against 20 types of the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae that cause pneumococcal disease. How well the vaccine works is different for each type of bacteria. Compared to the other pneumococcal conjugate vaccines that protect against fewer types of bacteria, the PNEU-C20 vaccine may provide better protection against certain types of the bacteria that are currently spreading.
Immunization is the best way to protect yourself from getting pneumococcal disease.
Vaccine safety is a top priority. Canada uses extremely safe vaccines. Learn more about vaccine safety in Canada, including how vaccines are monitored for continued safety, and ingredients in vaccines.
There can be side effects from the PNEU-C20 vaccine, but they tend to be mild and go away in a few days. Side effects may include:
At least 1 out of 100 people who got this vaccine reported 1 or more of these side effects. In some cases, it is unknown if the vaccine caused these side effects.
It is important to stay at the clinic for 15 minutes after your vaccine. Some people may have a rare but serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. If anaphylaxis happens, you will get medicine to treat the symptoms.
It is rare to have a serious side effect after a vaccine. Call Health Link at 811 to report any serious or unusual side effects.
There can be mild, short-term side effects after getting a vaccine. Find tips to manage these side effects at home.