Monday 5 October 2009

Q & A: 5 yearly revaccination of Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine for people diagnosed with CKD

Q: I have been asked by our Primary Care Subgroup if you have heard anything further from the immunisation team in relation to vaccination and 5 yearly revaccination of Pneumococcal vaccine for people diagnosed with CKD as it is unclear in the ‘green book’. I appreciate this is a difficult one and maybe there needs to be further research undertaken into this area before we can give a definite answer. Lynda Smith, Kidney Care Network Manager, Cumbria & Lancs

A: Dear Linda, The Green Book is currently being revised and will soon contain further information regarding people who have CKD and the pneumococcal vaccine. We will outline that patients with Chronic Kidney Disease stages 3 to 5 should be offered two doses of PCV (pneumoccocal conjugate vaccine) vaccination followed by a booster dose of PCV (pneumoccocal conjugate vaccine) every five years. Patients suffering from CKD stages 3 to 5 should no longer receive PPV (pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine).