skip to main content

Adult pneumococcal vaccination — USMLE Step 3 MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

HardPreventive Medicine, Epidemiology, BiostatisticsAdult pneumococcal vaccinationUSMLE Step 3

A 66-year-old with chronic heart disease has never received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Which plan is appropriate?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A — Give one PCV20 dose, or sequence PCV15 and PPSV23 by age and history

A pneumococcal-naive adult aged 50 or older should receive PCV20 alone or PCV15 followed by PPSV23. The other plans omit conjugate coverage, delay prevention, or use unsupported schedules.

Reference: CDC, Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations: https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/hcp/vaccine-recommendations/index.html