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Osteoporosis screening — USMLE Step 3 MCQ

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HardPreventive Medicine, Epidemiology, BiostatisticsOsteoporosis screeningUSMLE Step 3

A 42-year-old with functional asplenia has never received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and chooses PCV15 today rather than PCV20 or PCV21. What is the earliest acceptable plan for completing the adult pneumococcal series?

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Correct answer: E — Give PPSV23 at least 8 weeks after PCV15

The best answer is “Give PPSV23 at least 8 weeks after PCV15”. PCV15 must be followed by one PPSV23 dose. Although the usual adult interval is 1 year, CDC permits a minimum interval of 8 weeks for an immunocompromising condition such as functional asplenia. PCV15 and PPSV23 are not administered at the same visit, and selecting PCV15 does not create a multidose PCV15 series.

Reference: CDC Adult Immunization Schedule Notes: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-notes.html