Enhanced Surveillance

Two types of pneumococcal vaccine are now licensed in the UK, which include a variable number of capsular serotypes: the older 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) and the newer 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV).

From 4 September 2006 PCV vaccine will be introduced into the Routine Childhood Immunisation Programme with a catch-up campaign to two years of age. 

In addition, at-risk children aged over 12 months and under five years of age should be offered a single dose of PCV. Children in this age group with asplenia, splenic dysfunction or who are immunocompromised require a second dose of PCV because this group may have a suboptimal immunological response to the first dose of vaccine. 

All at risk children should also be offered a single dose of PPV -if not previously given- when they are two years of age or older (and at least two months after the final dose of PCV).