One dose, once, and the adult pneumococcal schedule is finished. Until recently this took two different vaccines a year apart, so it is worth knowing the schedule has changed.
A single dose of the 20-valent conjugate vaccine. No follow-up polysaccharide dose is needed afterwards.
Any time of year. If you have previously had a 13-valent conjugate or a 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine, bring those records; the interval before a further dose depends on what you have already had.
| Brand | What is in it | Per dose |
|---|---|---|
| Prevenar 20 Our choice Pfizer | 20-valent conjugate, CRM197 carrier Covers twenty serotypes in one dose and closes the schedule. | ₹5,555 |
| Prevenar 13 Pfizer | 13-valent conjugate, CRM197 carrier Fewer serotypes, and current guidance no longer recommends it as the adult starting point. | ₹3,991 |
| Pneumovax 23 MSD | 23-valent plain polysaccharide Polysaccharide rather than conjugate. Not needed after the 20-valent conjugate. | ₹2,525 |
The 13-valent conjugate and the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine can both still be given, and there are situations where they are the right answer. For most adults starting from scratch, the 20-valent conjugate is the current preferred option because it covers the most serotypes and completes the schedule in a single visit, where the older approach needed two vaccines a year apart.
Product names and prices are listed so you know what you are being given and what it costs. They are for identification only and do not constitute a recommendation of any manufacturer. Prices shown are the manufacturer's maximum retail price per dose as at 12 August 2026; manufacturers and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority revise these from time to time, and your actual cost is confirmed before anything is administered.
Guidance this page reflects. Indian Consensus Guidelines on Adult Immunization, 2026 update, which endorses the 20-valent conjugate as the preferred single-dose adult option in place of the older sequential schedule. Last reviewed 12 August 2026.
Vaccines are prescription medicines. Suitability, timing and contraindications are determined by a doctor after individual assessment. This page is general information about a clinical service and is not a prescription, a recommendation to purchase any product, or a substitute for consultation.
Most adults are missing two or three. Two questions will tell you which to raise.