What's the difference between Capvaxive and Prevnar 20?

Capvaxive and [Prevnar 20](https://www.goodrx.com/prevnar-20/what-is) are [vaccines](https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/conversations/understanding-vacc-work.html) that help prevent [pneumococcal disease and pneumonia](https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/about/index.html). The main difference is the types of pneumococcal bacteria they can protect against. Capvaxive protects against 21 types while Prevnar 20 protects against 20 types. The [specific types](https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/vaccines/types.html#:~:text=Prevnar%2020%C2%AE%20(PCV20)%20helps,21%20types%20of%20pneumococcal%20bacteria.) of the bacteria the vaccines protect against are also different. Even with these differences, the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/downloads/Vaccine-Timing-Adults-JobAid.pdf) says that you can choose either one. Talk to your primary care provider or pharmacist to [compare](https://www.goodrx.com/compare/capvaxive-vs-prevnar-20) and see which vaccine is best for you.

Should you get Capvaxive if you got Prevnar 13 or Pneumovax 23?

If you've had other [pneumococcal vaccines](https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/vaccines/pneumonia) before, talk to your primary care provider or pharmacist to see if you should get Capvaxive. This depends on how many doses of each vaccine you've had, your age, and any health problems you might have. For example, adults under 50 with certain health conditions who already got [Prevnar 13](https://www.goodrx.com/prevnar-13/what-is) or [Pneumovax 23](https://www.goodrx.com/pneumovax-23/what-is) can get Capvaxive at least 1 year later to finish their vaccine series. Check out the [CDC's pneumococcal vaccine timing guide for adults](https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/downloads/Vaccine-Timing-Adults-JobAid.pdf) to learn more. Or, you can ask a healthcare professional.

Can you get the Capvaxive vaccine with other shots?

Yes. You can get the Capvaxive vaccine [at the same time](https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/hcp/administering-vaccine.html) as other vaccines, like the [flu shot](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/flu-vaccination) or [any other recommended vaccines](https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/vaccines/adults). But you shouldn't get more than one [pneumococcal vaccine](https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/vaccines/pneumonia) during the same appointment. Ask a healthcare professional if you have more questions about what vaccines you need.

Capvaxive

pneumococcal 21-valent conjugate vaccine

Used for Pneumonia

Capvaxive is the brand name for the pneumococcal 21-valent conjugate vaccine. It helps protect adults from pneumococcal disease and pneumonia caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae (or "pneumococcus"). Capvaxive is injected into the muscle just once. It's given by a healthcare professional at a medical office, clinic, or pharmacy. Side effects include pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site. You also might feel tired or have a headache. These side effects usually go away in a few days.

Reviewed by:

Robert Chad Hakim, PharmD, BCCCP

Cydnee Ng, PharmD

Last reviewed on April 1, 2025

What is Capvaxive?

What is Capvaxive used for?

Prevention of pneumococcal disease in adults
Prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia in adults

How Capvaxive works

Capvaxive is a type of vaccine called a conjugate vaccine. It protects against 21 types of pneumococcal bacteria. The vaccine has a small piece of the bacteria in it.

After you get the Capvaxive shot, your immune system makes antibodies to fight the bacteria. These antibodies help protect you from serious pneumococcal disease and pneumonia if the bacteria gets into your body.

Are you looking for information on Vaxneuvance (pneumococcal 15-valent conjugate vaccine), or Prevnar 20 (pneumococcal 20-valent conjugate vaccine) instead?

Drug facts

Common BrandsCapvaxive

Drug ClassVaccine

Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication

Generic StatusNo lower-cost generic available

AvailabilityPrescription only

More on Capvaxive essentials

A person with a vaccine bandaid on their arm.
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Do I Need a Pneumonia Shot? Here’s Everything to Know About Pneumococcal Vaccines

Written by Sarah Pozniak, MD

Side effects of Capvaxive

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

Pain at the injection site (73%)
Fatigue (36%)
Headache (27%)
Muscle pain (16%)
Redness at the injection site (14%)
Swelling at the injection site (13%)

Less Common Side Effects

Fever

Capvaxive serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

Serious allergic reaction: itching, hives, rash, flushing, dizziness, shaking, nausea, shortness of breath, chest pain

When do Capvaxive possible side effects begin and end?

Time passed since treatment started:

HHOURS

DDAYS

WWEEKS

MMONTHS

Pain, redness, or swelling at injection site

Fatigue

Headache

Muscle pain

Source: DailyMed

More on Capvaxive side effects

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Injection Site Reactions: Why Your Arm Hurts After a Shot and What to Do About It

Written by Tracy Norfleet, MD, FACP

The following Capvaxive side effects have also been reported

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Feeling faint or lightheaded

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):

Fever
General discomfort and fatigue
Headache
Muscle pain
Pain, redness, or irritation at injection site

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Pros and cons of Capvaxive

Pros

Only need one dose of the vaccine
Protects against 21 types of pneumococcal bacteria

Cons

Must be given as an injection into the muscle
Can't get vaccinated with Capvaxive if you've had an allergic reaction to diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccines (e.g., DTaP, Tdap)

Pharmacist tips for Capvaxive

Talk to a healthcare professional before getting the Capvaxive vaccine to see if it's right for you. Vaccines for pneumonia can be confusing since there are many different kinds. A healthcare professional can help you figure out which ones you need.
The Capvaxive vaccine helps lower your risk of pneumococcal disease and pneumonia. But like all vaccines, it might not protect you 100% of the time. You could still get sick even after getting the shot. Other ways to help protect yourself from getting sick are staying away from people who are sick and washing your hands often.
If you feel sick, it's best to wait until you feel better before getting Capvaxive. This helps your immune system work its best to protect you from pneumonia. You can still get the shot if you have a mild illness, like a cold or low-grade fever. But if you feel really sick, wait until you recover. Ask a healthcare professional if you're not sure whether you should get vaccinated if you're feeling sick.
Common side effects of Capvaxive include pain at the site of injection, tiredness, muscle aches, and headaches. They usually last no more than 3 days. If these side effects don't start to go away after 3 days, talk to your primary care provider.
If you develop a severe reaction to Capvaxive, you or your healthcare team can report it to the vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS). Go to their website website or call 1-800-822-7967 to report the reaction.
Read the vaccine information statement for more information on Capvaxive. Ask a healthcare professional if you have other questions.

Common questions about Capvaxive

No. Capvaxive is a non-live vaccine. More specifically, it's a type of vaccine called a conjugate vaccine. Capvaxive is made up of a small piece of the pneumococcal bacteria. After you get the shot, your immune system starts making antibodies against this piece of the bacteria. This is how your body builds immunity against it. If the pneumococcal bacteria gets in your body later, the antibodies are ready to fight it.

Most side effects from the Capvaxive shot go away within 3 days. These side effects include pain, redness, or swelling where you got the shot. You might also feel tired, have a headache, or feel muscle aches. These side effects are usually mild. You can put an ice pack on the area where you got the Capvaxive vaccine to help with swelling or redness. You can also take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain. Ask a healthcare professional for more ways to feel better after you get the Capvaxive shot. If the side effects are severe or if they don't get better after 3 days, call a healthcare professional.

You can usually get the Capvaxive shot at a medical office or your local pharmacy. The Capvaxive vaccine is given as an injection into the muscle by a healthcare professional. It's not a vaccine that you can pick up at the pharmacy and give to yourself at home.

Capvaxive and Prevnar 20 are vaccines that help prevent pneumococcal disease and pneumonia. The main difference is the types of pneumococcal bacteria they can protect against. Capvaxive protects against 21 types while Prevnar 20 protects against 20 types. The specific types of the bacteria the vaccines protect against are also different. Even with these differences, the CDC says that you can choose either one. Talk to your primary care provider or pharmacist to compare and see which vaccine is best for you.

If you've had other pneumococcal vaccines before, talk to your primary care provider or pharmacist to see if you should get Capvaxive. This depends on how many doses of each vaccine you've had, your age, and any health problems you might have. For example, adults under 50 with certain health conditions who already got Prevnar 13 or Pneumovax 23 can get Capvaxive at least 1 year later to finish their vaccine series. Check out the CDC's pneumococcal vaccine timing guide for adults to learn more. Or, you can ask a healthcare professional.

Yes. You can get the Capvaxive vaccine at the same time as other vaccines, like the flu shot or any other recommended vaccines. But you shouldn't get more than one pneumococcal vaccine during the same appointment. Ask a healthcare professional if you have more questions about what vaccines you need.

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Risks and warnings for Capvaxive

Capvaxive can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

Severe allergic reaction

Like with any vaccine, there's a rare chance you could have a severe allergic reaction to Capvaxive. The healthcare professional giving you the shot might ask you to stay for a little while afterward. This way, they can help you quickly if you have serious allergic reaction.

Sometimes, allergic reactions can happen after you leave the clinic. Get medical help right away if you feel faint, have swelling in your face, trouble breathing, hives, rash, dizziness, shaking, or chest pain. These can be signs of a severe allergic reaction.

Lower response to Capvaxive in people who have a weakened immune system

Risk factors: Medical conditions that weaken the immune system | Taking medications that lower your immune system

Capvaxive might not work as well in people who have a weak immune system. This means that they could still get sick with pneumococcal infections like pneumonia, even after getting the vaccine.

Talk to your primary care provider or healthcare team first before getting Capvaxive. Make sure they know if you have any medical conditions that weaken your immune system, like HIV or cancer. Also, tell them about any medications you take. Some medications, like high-dose corticosteroids and transplant medications, can make your immune system weaker.

More on Capvaxive warnings

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Capvaxive dosage

The average cost for 1 syringe of 0.5ml of Capvaxive is $304.14 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 19.64% off the average retail price of $378.47.

Syringe

Dosage	Quantity	Price as low as	Price per unit
0.5ml	1 syringe	$304.14	$304.14

Typical dosage for Capvaxive

The typical dose is 1 injection (0.5 mL) into the muscle. It's given by a trained healthcare professional at a medical office, clinic, or pharmacy.

How much does Capvaxive cost?

To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.

Capvaxive (brand)

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$304.14

(save 19.64%)

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Capvaxive contraindications

Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Capvaxive will not be safe for you to take.

Allergy to any diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine (including DT, Td, DTaP, or Tdap (Boostrix))

What are alternatives to Capvaxive?

There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Capvaxive. Compare a few possible alternatives below.

Capvaxive

Used for:

Prevention of pneumococcal disease in adults
Prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia in adults

$304.14Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

Prevnar 20

Used for:

Prevention of pneumococcal infections in people 6 weeks of age and older
Prevention of pneumococcal ear infections in children between 6 weeks and 5 years of age
Prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia in adults 18 years and older

$249.20Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

News about Capvaxive

Do I Need a Pneumonia Shot? Here’s Everything to Know About Pneumococcal Vaccines

Pneumococcal vaccines protect against pneumonia and other conditions caused by Strep bacteria. Here’s your guide to different pneumococcal shots and schedules.

Capvaxive images

This medicine is Colorless Syringe.colorless - CAPVAXIVE Pneumococcal 21-valent Conjugate Vaccine Solution for Injection

References

Best studies we found

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Pneumococcal disease.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Administering pneumococcal vaccines.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (interim) VIS.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

Capvaxive