On July 2nd, 2025, the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health shared a memorandum RE: the pneumococcal high risk paediatric program enhancement and the Health Care Provider Fact Sheet: Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines for Children Aged 6 Weeks to 17 Years.
Children aged 6 weeks to 17 years who are at high risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) who have completed their pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate (Pneu-C-13) immunization series are now eligible for one dose of the pneumococcal 20-valent conjugate (Pneu-C-20) vaccine.
- Publicly funded vaccines for children aged 6 weeks to 17 years:
- Vaxneuvance (Pneu-C-15) for those aged 6 weeks to 4 years at low risk for IPD
- Prevnar 20 (Pneu-C-20) for those aged 6 weeks to 17 years at high risk for IPD
- Pneu-C-20 should be provided at a minimum interval of 8 weeks since the last dose of Pneu-C-13, or at least 1 year since a dose of Pneumovax 23 (Pneu-P-23).
- NOTE: The eligibility criteria for the adult pneumococcal program remain unchanged.
Vaccine Orders:
- Updated eligibility is now in effect.
- Health care providers can administer vaccinations with their existing supply of Pneu-C-20.
- Vaccine orders for Pneu-C-15 and Pneu-C-20 can be made using the Requisition for Biological Supplies Form available online.
Questions:
- General: contact TPH at [email protected] or 416-338-7600, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Vaccine Delivery: contact the Ontario Government Pharmaceutical Services Customer Service at 416-327-0837 or [email protected].
More information:
Ministry of Health – Vaccine resources for professionals: Pneumococcal Vaccine Program
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