How:

Subcutaneous or Intramuscular Injection (preferably in the deltoid muscle or lateral mid-thigh)

According to the advice from the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (HKCIP) recommended by the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases of the Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health:

- Newborns: 3 doses in total; receive 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV13) primary series at 2 and 4 months and a booster dose at 12 months.

- Aged 1 to 6 years and below: a single dose of PCV13 catch-up vaccination should be provided to children who have not completed the primary series or received any booster dose of PCV13.     

- High-risk individuals* aged 2 years or above: receive a single dose of PCV13, followed by a single dose of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPPV) 1 year later.

For elderly 65 years of age and older without high-risk conditions*: either a single dose of PCV13 or a single dose of 23vPPV.

* High-risk conditions include:

1. History of invasive pneumococcal disease;
2. Immunocompromised states:
   - Asplenia, HIV /AIDS, primary immunodeficiency
   - Immunodeficiencies related to malignancies and transplantation
   - Immunodeficiencies related to use of immunosuppressive drugs / systemic steroid
3. Chronic disease
   - Chronic cardiac, pulmonary, liver, or renal disease
   - Diabetes mellitus or cerebrospinal fluid leakage
4. With cochlear implants

(Essential hypertension per se is not considered as a high-risk condition)

Recommended for