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Pneumocococcal Immunization Pneumococcal
conjugate vaccine is the second part of our one-two punch against bacterial
meningitis (Hib vaccine is the first). Until very recently, pneumococcal
vaccine was recommended mostly for adults over 65 years old, and was not
licensed at all for children under 2. This is because the type of vaccine
that was previously available (pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine) didn't
work very well for young children. Now a different type of vaccine (pneumococcal
conjugate vaccine) has been licensed that works for children under 2,
and it is finally possible to prevent pneumococcal disease in that vulnerable
age group. Pneumococcal
conjugate vaccine is an inactivated (killed) vaccine. It gives immunity
against the 7 strains of the pneumococcal bacterium that cause most of
the serious infections in children. This vaccine should prevent most meningitis
and bacteremia caused by pneumococcal bacteria. However, there are other
causes of bacteremia and meningitis, and this vaccine will not prevent
them. It will also not prevent all ear infections. Some ear infections
are caused by pneumococcal disease, but many are caused by other germs
too, and the vaccine will not prevent these. Children
should routinely get 4 doses of the vaccine, one dose each at 2, 4, 6,
and 12-15 months of age. Children who begin the series later may not need
as many doses. Check with your doctor or clinic for the recommended schedule
if your child starts late. Children over 5 years old will generally not
get the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Older children who need protection
from pneumococcal disease (those with certain chronic diseases or damaged
immune systems) can get the polysaccharide vaccine, or may get a series
that includes both vaccines. Your doctor or clinic staff will tell you
if your older children need protection from pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal
vaccine may be given at the same time as other childhood vaccines. Side
Effects from Pneumococcal Immunization Since
the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is new, the only safety data come from
clinical trials. The side effects that have been seen are mainly mild
local reactions (redness or tenderness where the shot was given) or a
mild fever. The frequency of these reactions vary from study to study,
with the highest rates being about 40% of recipients. Moderately serious
reactions, such as prolonged crying and febrile seizures (seizures caused
by fever) were seen only rarely in these studies, and may not have been
caused by the vaccine. Like
any vaccine, or medicine, pneumococcal vaccine could theoretically trigger
a serious reaction in someone who is allergic to one of its components.
But severe allergic reactions to childhood vaccines are very rare (estimated
at around one per million doses), and no child is ever known to have died
from an allergic reaction to a vaccine. Precautions There are several reasons a doctor might want to delay giving a child a pneumococcal vaccination or not give it at all:
After
Getting Pneumococcal Vaccine . . . If your child has any serious or unusual problem after getting pneumococcal vaccine, or any other vaccine, call your doctor or take your child to a doctor right away. U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES |