Pneumococcal vaccine:

A healthy man comes to your office in hope of getting revaccinated.

In which scenario would you vaccinate him?

1. If his previous vaccine was less than 5 years ago
2. If  he was more than 65 years old when he got his first Pneumonia vaccine
3. If he was less than 65 years age on primary vaccine and it has been more than 5 years since it was given
4. If it is more than 5 years since primary vaccine – regardless of age at primary vaccine
5. Patient has asthma
6. Undergoing splenectomy tomorrow.

Answer is choice 3. Revaccination in healthy is indicated for a max of 2 times only if patient was less than 65 years age at time of primary vaccine. The timeframe is 5 years apart. Immunocompromised patients are also revaccinated once after 5 years.

Asthma is an indication for Influenza vaccine but not for pneumococcal vaccine.

Pneumococcal vaccine is indicated in pre-splenectomy patient only ³ 2 weeks before procedure.