What Is Pneumococcal Vaccine Called

What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Pcv And Ppsv Vaccines

Kids may have redness, tenderness, or swelling where the shot was given. A child also might have a fever after getting the shot. There is a very small chance of an allergic reaction with any vaccine.

The pneumococcal vaccines contain only a small piece of the germ and so cannot cause pneumococcal disease.

Vaccines For Children Program

The Vaccines for Children Program provides vaccines to children whose parents or guardians may not be able to afford them. A child is eligible if they are younger than 19 years old and meets one of the following requirements:

• Medicaid-eligible
• American Indian or Alaska Native
• Underinsured

If your child is VFC-eligible, ask if your doctor is a VFC provider. For help in finding a VFC provider near you, contact your state or local health departments VFC Program Coordinator or call CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO .

What Are The Most Common Side Effects Of Pneumovax 23 And Prevnar 13

Side effects with pneumococcal vaccines are usually mild and go away on their own within a few days.

Common side effects of Prevnar 13 include:

• Injection site pain

• Fever

Common side effects of Pneumovax 23 include:

• Injection site pain

• Fever

• Muscle aches

• Fatigue

Be sure to talk with your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms for a prolonged period of time.

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Questions To Ask Your Doctor

• When should I make an appointment to get each type of pneumococcal vaccine?
• Should I still get the vaccines if Ive recently had pneumonia?
• Should I wait to turn 65 before I get each dose of pneumococcal vaccines?
• If I have a negative reaction to one type of pneumococcal vaccine, am I likely to have that same reaction to the other?

Funding was provided for these pneumococcal resources through an unrestricted grant from Pfizer Independent Grant for Learning and Change .

What Is The Pneumococcal Vaccine

The pneumococcal vaccine is an injection given to protect you from pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal disease develops from an infection caused by pneumococcal bacteria. The infection may cause pneumonia or an ear infection. Pneumococcal disease is spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. The vaccine comes in 2 forms, called pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine .

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Who Should Get The Vaccine

People over age 65. As you age, your immune system doesnât work as well as it once did. Youâre more likely to have trouble fighting off a pneumonia infection. All adults over age 65 should get the vaccine.

Those with weakened immune systems. Many diseases can cause your immune system to weaken, so itâs less able to fight off bugs like pneumonia.

If you have heart disease, diabetes, emphysema, asthma, or COPD , youâre more likely to have a weakened immune system, which makes you more likely to get pneumonia.

The same goes for people who receive chemotherapy, people who have had organ transplants, and people with HIV or AIDS.

People who smoke. If youâve smoked for a long time, you could have damage to the small hairs that line the insides of your lungs and help filter out germs. When theyâre damaged, they arenât as good at stopping those bad germs.

Heavy drinkers. If you drink too much alcohol, you may have a weakened immune system. Your white blood cells donât work as well as they do for people with a healthy immune system.

People getting over surgery or a severe illness. If you were in the hospital ICU and needed help breathing with a ventilator, youâre at risk of getting pneumonia. The same is true if youâve just had major surgery or if youâre healing from a serious injury. When your immune system is weak because of illness or injury or because itâs helping you get better from surgery, you canât fight off germs as well as you normally can.

Who Should Not Get The Pcv 13 Vaccine

Speak with your health care provider if you or your child has had a life-threatening reaction to a previous dose of pneumococcal vaccine, or to any component of the vaccine.

There is no need to delay getting immunized because of a cold or other mild illness. However, if you have concerns, speak with your health care provider.

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Important Information About All Medicines

Where Can I Find These Vaccines

Your doctors office is usually the best place to receive recommended vaccines for you or your child.

PCV13 is part of the routine childhood immunization schedule. Therefore, it is regularly available for children at:

• Pediatric and family practice offices
• Community health clinics

If your doctor does not have pneumococcal vaccines for adults, ask for a referral.

Pneumococcal vaccines may also be available for adults at:

• Pharmacies
• Health departments
• Other community locations, such as schools and religious centers

Federally funded health centers can also provide services if you do not have a regular source of health care. Locate one near youexternal icon. You can also contact your state health department to learn more about where to get pneumococcal vaccines in your community.

When receiving any vaccine, ask the provider to record the vaccine in the state or local registry, if available. This helps doctors at future encounters know what vaccines you or your child have already received.

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What Are The Side Effects Of The Pneumonia Vaccine

Most people don’t usually have serious side effects from either vaccine, but it’s possible to have some mild symptoms.

The most common side effects with PCV13 include:

• Redness where the shot was given.
• Swelling where the shot was given.
• Pain or tenderness where the shot was given.
• Fever.

The most common side effects with PPSV23 include:

• Redness where the shot was given.
• Pain where the shot was given.
• Fever.
• Muscle aches.

If you do happen to have side effects, CDC says they’ll usually go away within two days.

The Different Types Of Pneumococcal Vaccine

The type of pneumococcal vaccine you’re given depends on your age and health. There are 2 types.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is used to vaccinate children under 2 years old as part of the NHS vaccination schedule. It’s known by the brand name Prevenar 13.

Children at risk of pneumococcal infections can have the PPV vaccine from the age of 2 years onwards. The PPV vaccine is not very effective in children under the age of 2.

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Who Should Not Get The Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine

Speak with your health care provider if you have had a life-threatening reaction to a previous dose of pneumococcal vaccine, or any component of the vaccine.

Children under 2 years of age should not receive the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine because it is not effective in young children. These children receive the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine starting at 2 months of age.

There is no need to delay getting immunized because of a cold or other mild illness. However, if you have concerns speak with your health care provider.

Children At High Risk Of Ipd

Infants at high risk of IPD due to an underlying medical condition should receive Pneu-C-13 vaccine in a 4 dose schedule at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months followed by a dose at 12 to 15 months of age. Table 3 summarizes the recommended schedules for Pneu-C-13 vaccine for infants and children at high risk of IPD due to an underlying medical condition by pneumococcal conjugate vaccination history.

In addition to Pneu-C-13 vaccine, children at high risk of IPD due to an underlying medical condition should receive 1 dose of Pneu-P-23 vaccine at 24 months of age, at least 8 weeks after Pneu-C-13 vaccine. If an older child or adolescent at high risk of IPD due to an underlying medical condition has not previously received Pneu-P-23 vaccine, 1 dose of Pneu-P-23 vaccine should be administered, at least 8 weeks after Pneu-C-13 vaccine. Children and adolescents at highest risk of IPD should receive 1 booster dose of Pneu-P-23 vaccine refer to Booster doses and re-immunization. Refer to Immunocompromised persons for information about immunization of HSCT recipients.

Table 3: Recommended Schedules for Pneu-C-13 Vaccine for Children 2 months to less than 18 years of age, by Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination History

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What Are The Contents Of The Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine

This vaccine contains protein material from pneumococcal bacteria in a carrier protein of diphtheria toxin. It is an inactivated vaccine and does not contain any living bacteria. Traces of non-medicinal ingredients are present to keep the vaccine stable, sterile and to help it be more effective. The vaccine is licensed for use in Canada by the Biologic and Genetics Therapies Directorate within Health Canada. A complete listing of contents is included in the product insert which is available from the immunizing nurse. There is no latex in the prefilled syringe used to administer this vaccine.

What Are The Side Effects

Vaccines are very safe. It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get pneumococcal disease.

Many people have no side effects from the vaccines. For those that do, side effects are usually mild and last 1 to 2 days . Serious side effects are very rare.

It is important to stay in the clinic for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine because there is a very rare possibility, between one in 100,000 and one in a million, of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue or lips. Should this reaction occur, your health care provider is prepared to treat it. Emergency treatment includes injection of epinephrine and transfer by ambulance to the nearest emergency department. If symptoms develop after you leave the clinic, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

It is important to always report serious or unexpected reactions to your immunizing health care provider.

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How The Vaccine Is Given

• Before you are given the vaccine, ask to read the manufacturer’s printed information leaflet. The manufacturer’s leaflet will give you more information about the vaccine and will tell you about any side-effects which you may experience from having it. If you have any questions about the vaccine, ask your doctor or nurse for advice.
• You will be given one dose of the vaccine. It may be given at the same time as some other vaccines, such as the flu vaccine, but it will be given as a separate injection.
• Most adults over 65 will be given a single, one-off dose of pneumococcal vaccine. Some people with kidney problems or immune system problems may need a ‘booster’ dose every five years. Your doctor will advise you on this.
• The vaccine is given by injection into a muscle, or as an injection underneath your skin.

Influenza And Pneumococcal Immunization

Everyone plays a role in infection preventionpatients, families, and healthcare personnelin and out of healthcare facilities.

So do your part! Wherever you are, there is something you can do to stay safe from infections.

Two things that you can do for yourself and your loved ones are to receive an influenza vaccine annually and a pneumonia immunization at the appropriate time according to your age and health history. By doing so, you not only protect yourself, but you protect others who are vulnerable to severe illness or even death if they get one of these viruses.

Influenza immunization

Flu activity usually peaks in the U.S. in January or February. However, seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May. Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza virus. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. Even healthy people can get sick enough to miss work or school for a significant amount of time or even be hospitalized. Learn the flu basics.

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Who Should Get Pneumococcal Vaccines

CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all children younger than 2 years old and all adults 65 years or older. In certain situations, older children and other adults should also get pneumococcal vaccines. Below is more information about who should and should not get each type of pneumococcal vaccine.

Talk to your or your childs doctor about what is best for your specific situation.

How Important Is It For An Adult Over Age 65 To Get Vaccinated

It’s very important. If you are over age 65 or have an underlying medical condition that puts you at risk and have not had a pneumococcal vaccination, talk to your doctor and ask to schedule one. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Disease, bacteremia and meningitis caused by invasive pneumococcal disease is responsible for the highest rates of death among the elderly and patients who have underlying medical conditions.

Making sure you and your children get the pneumococcal vaccine can save lives.

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When To Get The Vaccine

Thereâs no such thing as pneumonia season, like flu season. If you and your doctor decide that you need to have a pneumonia vaccine, you can get it done at any time of the year. If itâs flu season, you can even get a pneumonia vaccine at the same time that you get a flu vaccine, as long as you receive each shot in a different arm.

What Is Pneumococcal Disease And What Are The Complications Of This Disease

Invasive pneumococcal disease is caused by a common bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can cause several illnesses including meningitis, pneumonia, bacteremia or blood infection, and ear infections. Pneumonia and ear infections are common in children blood infection and meningitis are less common but they are serious.

The S. pneumoniae organism may be present in the nose and throat of many people and some are more likely to get a serious infection with pneumococcus bacteria. This includes children, adults who have or are around children, and those who have a condition that decreases their ability to fight infection. Examples include those whose spleen has been removed due to injury or disease, and those who have received therapy such as bone marrow transplant.

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine provides protection against the 13 strains of S. pneumoniae bacteria, which cause most of the pneumococcal illness in children under five years of age. The introduction of immunization programs for children over the past decade has contributed to a decrease of over 80 per cent in the incidence of childhood invasive pneumococcal disease caused by the strains in the vaccine. A significant observation of this immunization program is the benefit of population herd immunity resulting from reduced presence of the bacteria in circulation.

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What Are The Possible Reactions From This Vaccine And How They Are Managed

The most serious but rare side effect is a severe allergic reaction , which can be life threatening and which usually occurs within 15-20 minutes of receiving the vaccine. Procedures are in place for the nurse to quickly respond to anaphylaxis by administering adrenaline.

The most common side effects occur within 24-48 hours after the injection and include swelling, redness and tenderness at the site of injection. Decreased appetite, irritability, diarrhea, vomiting, change in sleep pattern, drowsiness and fever may also occur.

It is not necessary to give acetaminophen with every immunization. If a person experiences discomfort or fever after receiving the vaccine acetaminophen can relieve these symptoms.

• Please remain in the waiting room for 15 minutes after immunization.
• See a doctor or seek medical attention if any serious side effect occurs.
• Report any serious reaction to the public health nurse.

What If It Is Not Clear What A Person’s Vaccination History Is

When indicated, vaccines should be administered to patients with unknown vaccination status. All residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities should have their vaccination status assessed and documented.

How long must a person wait to receive other vaccinations?

Inactivated influenza vaccine and tetanusvaccines may be given at the same time as or at any time before or after a dose of pneumococcus vaccine. There are no requirements to wait between the doses of these or any other inactivated vaccines.

Vaccination of children recommended

In July 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC jointly recommended childhood pneumococcal immunization, since pneumococcal infections are the most common invasive bacterial infections in children in the United States.

“The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, PCV13 or Prevnar 13, is currently recommended for all children younger than 5 years of age, all adults 65 years or older, and persons 6 through 64 years of age with certain medical conditions,” according to the 2014 AAP/CDC guidelines. “Pneumovax is a 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine that is currently recommended for use in all adults 65 years of age or older and for persons who are 2 years and older and at high risk for pneumococcal disease . PPSV23 is also recommended for use in adults 19 through 64 years of age who smoke cigarettes or who have asthma.”

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