Pneumonia vaccination

Suitable for people aged 65 and over who are at a higher risk of developing pneumonia.

Available from £30.

The Prevenar 13 vaccine, or PCV, targets 13 key serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, responsible for serious illnesses like pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections. These strains remain among the most common causes of pneumococcal disease.. Suitable for people aged two and over who are not at an increased risk of developing pneumonia.

Available from £70.

Also know by the brand name Prevenar 20 - covers 20 different serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, including 7 additional strains not found in Prevenar 13. These extra strains are linked to serious infections and antibiotic resistance, so broader coverage means better defence. These strains remain among the most common causes of pneumococcal disease. Suitable for people aged two and over who are not at an increased risk of developing pneumonia.

Available from £100.

Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition in one or both lungs, usually caused by a bacterial infection. It can also be caused by a virus like flu or coronavirus. Pneumonia makes the insides of the lungs swell, produce more mucus and fill with fluid.

Pneumonia symptoms can come on quickly, within 24 to 48 hours, or they can develop over several days.

• a cough which may be dry or chesty
• thick yellow, green, brown or blood-stained mucus (phlegm)
• chest pain
• difficulty breathing
• high temperature (fever)
• sweating and shivering
• fast heartbeat
• loss of appetite.

If you have pneumonia symptoms, contact your GP, call 111 or visit NHS 111 online.

Pneumonia can be a serious illness with long-term effects, and can lead to other serious health conditions like meningitis as well as a form of blood poisoning called septicaemia. In some groups of people, such as people over 65, babies and those with long-term health conditions, pneumonia can be dangerous and even fatal.

Getting the pneumonia vaccine is an effective way to protect yourself against pneumonia. It’s given as a single injection, usually into your upper arm.

Both types of pneumonia vaccine help your body to produce antibodies to protect against the pneumococcal bacteria that causes pneumonia. This means you’re less likely to become seriously ill if you do come into contact with the bacteria.

We can provide pneumonia vaccinations to people aged two and above in our community pharmacies. Babies also get the pneumonia vaccine as part of the childhood vaccination programme. Find out more about the childhood vaccination programme on the NHS website.

Under 18s will need an adult to book their appointment for them and a legal guardian to attend the appointment with them.

We'll ask you some medical screening questions during the online booking process to check if the pneumonia vaccine is suitable. If you've had a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine before, speak to your GP before booking an appointment.

You should reschedule your vaccination appointment if you're unwell on the day, for example if you have a high temperature.

Find out if you’re eligible for a free pneumonia vaccination on the NHS website. We don’t currently provide free NHS pneumonia vaccinations in our community pharmacies, but you can speak to your GP about getting one if you’re eligible.

You can book pneumonia vaccination appointments for up to four people, provided everyone is eligible for the same type of vaccination (PPV or PCV). You will all attend the same appointment and your group will need to arrive at the pharmacy at the same time. If the people in your booking are eligible for different pneumonia vaccines, you’ll need to book their appointments separately. Check the eligibility information above before booking your appointment.

Please note:

• If any other people in your booking are aged 18 or over, you will need to have their consent to book the appointment on their behalf.
• If anyone in your booking is under 18, you will need to provide their legal guardian’s details and they must be accompanied to the appointment by their legal guardian.

Yes, you can book for other people if you’re not getting a vaccine. We will ask for your details and contact information to manage the booking.

We’ll send you an appointment confirmation email with contact details for the pharmacy. Please call the pharmacy as soon as you can to let them know if you can’t make it to your appointment. They’ll be able to help you if you need to reschedule.