Pneumococcus

PEDIATRIC ADVISOR: PNEUMOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINE
Your child has just been given an immunization to protect him/her against pneumococcal disease, which is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis. Meningitis is an infection of the covering of the brain. A fever may occur for 1-2 days after the immunization. Redness, tenderness or swelling may occur where the shot was given. If swelling occurs apply a cool cloth 2-3 times a day.

Pneumococcal vaccine prevents serious invasive bacterial disease and meningitis caused by streptococcal pneumonia (pneumococcus). Infants, young children, elderly, those with HIV, immunodeficiency, sickle cell disease, nephrotic syndrome, diabetes, chronic lung disease and those without a spleen are at risk for severe pneumococcus infection. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is used to protect infants and young children against disease caused by the pneumococcus. Prevnar is a 7-valent vaccine, meaning that it contains the cell membrane sugars of 7 types of pneumococcus. Vaccination with Prevnar is recommended for all children younger than 2 years, and for unvaccinated children between 24 and 59 months old who are at high risk for pneumococcal infections. Synflorix is a 10-valent vaccine, meaning that it contains the cell membrane sugars of 10 types of pneumococcus. Vaccination with Synflorix is recommended for all children younger than 2 years. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) is a 23-valent vaccine used to prevent pneumococcus infections such as pneumonia and septicaemia. PPV is recommended for those over the age of 65, and also for both children and adults in special risk categories. PPV is not the same vaccine as the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). Children under the age of two years fail to mount an adequate response to the 23-valent adult vaccine, and instead a 7-valent Pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV) must be used.

Vaccination schedule:

PEDIATRIC ADVISOR: PNEUMOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINE
Your child has just been given an immunization to protect him/her against pneumococcal disease, which is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis. Meningitis is an infection of the covering of the brain. A fever may occur for 1-2 days after the immunization. Redness, tenderness or swelling may occur where the shot was given. If swelling occurs apply a cool cloth 2-3 times a day.