Pneumococcal Polyvalent Vaccine

**Semantic type:** Immunologic Factor|Pharmacologic Substance

**Definition:** An polyvalent vaccine used to prevent infection by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumococcal polyvalent vaccine contains highly purified capsular antigens from the 23 most prevalent or invasive pneumococcal types of Streptococcus pneumoniae to ensure cross-protection. Following vaccination, protective capsular type-specific antibody levels typically develop by the third week; serotype-specific antibody levels generally decline after 5-10 years.

**Synonyms:** - PCV 23 - PPSV - PPSV23 - PPSV23 Vaccine - Pneumococcal 23-valent Polysaccharide Vaccine - Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine - Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent - Pneumovax 23 - Pnu-Imune 23