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Adult pneumococcal vaccination — USMLE Step 3 MCQ

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ModerateAmbulatory Medicine / Primary CareAdult pneumococcal vaccinationUSMLE Step 3

A 65-year-old woman comes for a wellness visit. She has smoked 1 pack daily for 30 years and continues to smoke. She asks about vaccines. She has never received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and has no immunocompromising condition. Which of the following is the most appropriate screening recommendation?

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Correct answer: E — Give an age-appropriate pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

Current adult immunization schedules recommend pneumococcal vaccination for adults 65 years or older, with product-specific options. Smoking also increases pneumococcal disease risk.

Reference: CDC clinical guidance