Do diabetics need the pneumonia vaccine? The American Diabetes Association (ADA) lists pneumococcal vaccination for adults 19 and older with diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends it for all adults 50 and older and for adults 19 through 49 with certain risk conditions, and CDC's list of risk conditions includes diabetes mellitus. Which vaccine you get, and when, depends on your age and what you have already had.
Key takeaways
- The "pneumonia vaccine" protects against pneumococcal disease, an infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria that can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections.
- CDC says people with diabetes are at increased risk of death from pneumonia, bloodstream infection, and meningitis.
- CDC lists four pneumococcal vaccines: PCV15, PCV20, PCV21, and PPSV23. Some adults need one dose, and some need two.
- CDC says the vaccines work well but cannot prevent all cases. Side effects are usually mild.
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist to check your vaccine record. Recommendations have changed in recent years.
What Pneumococcal Disease Is
CDC says pneumococcal disease is the name for any infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, also called pneumococcus. The bacteria can cause pneumonia (a lung infection), meningitis (an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord), bacteremia (a bloodstream infection), ear infections, and sinus infections. They spread through direct contact with respiratory secretions, such as saliva or mucus.
CDC says anyone can get pneumococcal disease, that older adults are at greatest risk of serious illness and death, and that people can get it more than once. CDC says doctors treat it with antibiotics, though some pneumococcal bacteria have become resistant to certain antibiotics.
Why Diabetes Raises the Stakes
CDC's adult vaccine fact sheet for people with diabetes (March 2020) says people with diabetes are at increased risk of death from pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis. ADA says people with diabetes are more likely to die with flu and pneumococcal diseases, yet many do not get the vaccine that can help prevent them.
CDC's page on the immune system and diabetes lists pneumonia among the illnesses that can be more frequent with diabetes. Our guide to whether diabetes weakens your immune system explains why.
CDC also links the flu and pneumococcal disease. It says having the flu increases your risk of pneumococcal disease, and that pneumococcal pneumonia is an example of a serious flu-related complication that can cause death.
Who Should Get It
| Group | What CDC says | What ADA says |
|---|---|---|
| All adults 50 and older | Recommended | Adults 19 and older with diabetes |
| Adults 19 through 49 with a risk condition | Recommended. CDC's list of risk conditions includes diabetes mellitus | Adults 19 and older with diabetes |
CDC's pneumococcal pages were updated in 2026. Another CDC page, on the immune system and diabetes (May 2024), still lists adults 65 and older and adults 19 to 64 with conditions such as diabetes. CDC's current pneumococcal pages list 50 as the routine age, so older pages that show 65 may be out of date. This is a good reason to ask for current guidance.
CDC's flu page for people with diabetes says pneumococcal vaccination should be part of your management plan, and to ask your healthcare provider which pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for you.
Which Vaccine, and How Many Doses
CDC says there are two kinds of pneumococcal vaccines in the United States: pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) and a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. The four in use are PCV15, PCV20, PCV21, and PPSV23. ADA says which one is right for you depends on your age and whether you have already had a pneumonia vaccine.
CDC's guidance for clinicians says that for adults 50 and older who have never had a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, or whose history is unknown, one dose of PCV15, PCV20, or PCV21 is given. CDC's guidance for adults 19 through 49 with a risk condition who have never had any pneumococcal vaccine is also one dose of PCV15, PCV20, or PCV21.
| Vaccine used first | What CDC says about the next dose |
|---|---|
| PCV15 | Followed by one dose of PPSV23 at least a year later. Then you are complete. |
| PCV20 or PCV21 | No PPSV23 is needed. You are complete. |
If you have had vaccines before, the plan depends on which ones and when. CDC offers a free app, PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor, that clinicians use to get patient-specific guidance. CDC also says adults 65 and older who had only certain earlier vaccines can decide with their clinician whether to get PCV20 or PCV21.
ADA says that when more than one type of pneumonia vaccine is recommended, the doses are usually separated by one year. ADA's Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026 table cites the 2025 schedule and does not list PCV21, which CDC's 2026 pages do. Your clinician will use the current schedule.
Who Should Not Get It
CDC says someone should not get PCV15, PCV20, or PCV21 if they had a life-threatening allergic reaction after any type of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine containing diphtheria toxoid (DTaP is an example), or have a severe allergy to any part of these vaccines. Someone should not get PPSV23 if they had a life-threatening allergic reaction after PPSV23 or have a severe allergy to any part of it.
CDC says vaccination is generally fine during a mild illness like a cold, and a vaccine provider can advise whether to wait until you feel better. Tell your provider about your vaccine history and any past reactions.
Side Effects
CDC says most people who get a pneumococcal vaccine do not have serious problems. Possible mild side effects of PCV15, PCV20, or PCV21 include redness, swelling, pain, or tenderness where you got the shot, fever or chills, loss of appetite, feeling tired, headache, and muscle aches or joint pain. For PPSV23, CDC lists redness or pain at the site, tiredness, fever, and muscle aches. CDC says these usually go away within about two days, and that serious reactions are possible.
Getting It With Your Flu Shot
CDC says that if someone with diabetes is due for the pneumococcal vaccine, they can get the one their provider recommends when they get a flu vaccine. See our guide on flu shots for people with diabetes and our overview of all recommended vaccines for adults with diabetes. ADA says that for people with Medicare, vaccines may be covered by Part B, Part D, or both, and most private insurance covers vaccines at low or no cost.
Symptoms to Know
ADA lists these symptoms of pneumonia: a cough that can produce gray, yellow, or bloody mucus, chest pain, rapid or difficult breathing, fever, and chills.
ADA lists these symptoms of meningitis: fever and chills, a stiff neck that gets worse, severe headache, confusion, sensitivity to light, and extreme tiredness to the point of being unresponsive.
CDC's sick day page says to check your temperature each morning and evening when you are ill, because a fever may be a sign of infection. Our guide to diabetes sick day rules explains what else to track.
Questions to Ask Your Care Team
- Have I had any pneumococcal vaccine, and if so, which one and when?
- Which pneumococcal vaccine do you recommend for me now?
- Will I need a second dose, and when?
- Can I get it at the same visit as my flu shot?
- Where can I get it, and how is it covered?
When to Call Your Care Team
Call 911 for trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, or a stiff neck with fever and severe headache.
Call the same day for a fever, chills, or a cough that is getting worse or brings up colored mucus. CDC's sick day page lists these reasons to go to the emergency room: trouble breathing, a temperature over 101°F for 24 hours, ketones in your urine, or blood sugar below 60 mg/dL.
At your next visit, ask for a review of your pneumococcal vaccine history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do diabetics need the pneumonia vaccine?
CDC says adults 19 through 49 with certain risk conditions should get pneumococcal vaccination, and its risk-condition list includes diabetes mellitus. CDC also recommends it for all adults 50 and older. ADA lists it for adults 19 and older with diabetes. Ask your doctor which vaccine and schedule fit you.
At what age should a person with diabetes get the pneumococcal vaccine?
ADA lists adults 19 and older with diabetes. CDC says adults 19 through 49 with a risk condition, which includes diabetes, and all adults 50 and older. Older CDC pages may still show 65 as the routine age, so ask your provider for the current schedule.
Which pneumonia vaccine is best for diabetics?
CDC lists PCV15, PCV20, PCV21, and PPSV23, and says the choice depends on age and vaccine history. If PCV15 is used first, a PPSV23 dose follows at least a year later. If PCV20 or PCV21 is used, no PPSV23 is needed. Your provider will choose with you.
How often do you need the pneumonia vaccine?
It varies. ADA says the schedule depends on the type of vaccine used, and that when more than one type is recommended they are usually a year apart. CDC says adults who received PCV20 or PCV21 are complete. Ask your provider to review your record.
Does the pneumonia vaccine have side effects?
CDC says most people have no serious problems. Mild side effects can include soreness, redness, or swelling where you got the shot, fever, tiredness, headache, and muscle aches, usually within about two days. CDC says serious reactions are possible. Tell your provider about any past reaction.
Can I get the pneumonia vaccine and the flu shot together?
CDC says that if you are due for the pneumococcal vaccine, you can get the one your provider recommends when you get a flu vaccine. Your provider can check whether you are due and which vaccine to use. CDC says generally mild illness like a cold does not rule out vaccination.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Pneumococcal Vaccination.” Accessed October 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About Pneumococcal Disease.” Accessed October 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations.” Accessed October 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Summary of Risk-based Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendations.” Accessed October 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Diabetes and Adult Vaccines.” Fact sheet, March 2020. Accessed October 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Flu and People with Diabetes.” Accessed October 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Your Immune System and Diabetes.” Accessed October 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Managing Sick Days.” Accessed October 2026.
- American Diabetes Association. “Vaccinations.” Accessed October 2026.
- American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee for Diabetes. “4. Comprehensive Medical Evaluation and Assessment of Comorbidities: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026.” Diabetes Care. 2026;49(Suppl. 1):S61–S88. Accessed October 2026.
Next Steps
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to look up your pneumococcal vaccine history, and write down the date and type of any dose you have had.
For adults with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes who want lifestyle education alongside clinical care, the Done With Diabetes™ program organizes learning about meals, movement, sleep, and stress. It does not diagnose or treat diabetes or infections, advise on vaccines, interpret test results, change medicines, or replace your care team.