Healthy children who have received the 13-valent pneumonia vaccine do not need to receive the 23-valent pneumonia vaccine. If they have immunodeficiency or are at high risk for pneumonia, it is recommended that they receive the 13-valent and 23-valent pneumonia vaccines at the same time. The 13-valent pneumonia vaccine is the only pneumococcal vaccine currently available for infants and children under 2 years of age. For children over 2 years old who are in good health, the 13-valent pneumonia vaccine can provide good protection. There is no need to receive the 23-valent pneumonia vaccine after receiving the 13-valent pneumonia vaccine, but if there are immunodeficiencies or people at high risk of pneumonia, it is recommended that they receive both vaccines to get better protection. People for whom the 23-valent pneumonia vaccine is appropriate include: everyone 65 years of age and older; people between the ages of 2 and 64 years of age who have chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema, as well as asthmatics who are 19 years of age or older, people with diabetes, and people with immune deficiencies (e.g., HIV infection, leukemia, congenital immune deficiencies, and people who are receiving immune-suppressing therapy). Although the 23-valent vaccine has a wider coverage, the 23-valent pneumonia vaccine does not benefit healthy children because it is a “polysaccharide” vaccine that does not create an immune memory and has a short duration of immunity. The 13-valent pneumonia vaccine is a polysaccharide conjugate vaccine that stimulates the immune system to produce sufficient protective antibodies and has an immune memory to protect against severe pneumonia. Therefore, you can decide whether to receive the 13-valent and 23-valent pneumonia vaccines at the same time according to your child’s condition and your doctor’s recommendation.