American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

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What is the abbreviation for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine?

  1. PPSV-23

  2. PCV-7

  3. PCV-13

  4. LAIV

The correct answer is: PCV-13

The abbreviation for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is PCV-13. This stands for Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, with "13" indicating it covers 13 different serotypes of the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. PCV-13 has been shown to be effective in preventing pneumococcal disease, including pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis, particularly in children and vulnerable adult populations. PPSV-23 refers to the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, which targets a different set of serotypes and is administered primarily to adults. PCV-7 represents an older form of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that covers only seven serotypes. LAIV refers to the live attenuated influenza vaccine, which is unrelated to pneumococcal vaccinations. Therefore, PCV-13 is the most current and widely used abbreviation for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, highlighting its broader coverage compared to the older versions.