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Vaccine Types

Pneumococcal

What is it?

Pneumococci bacteria live in the nose and throats of people of all ages. It is most serious for infants, young children, the elderly and people with certain illnesses. Pneumococci commonly infect the middle ear and the sinuses. While less common, pneumococci can also infect more serious areas of the body like the lungs (pneumococcal pneumonia), central nervous system (pneumococcal meningitis), and blood stream (bacteremia or sepsis). Pneumococcal symptoms depend on the area of the body that is infected.

Why is it important?

Pneumococcal infections are the most common invasive bacterial infections in children in the United States.

Progress
Studies have shown that the conjugate vaccine reduces the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease, pneumococcal pneumonia, and ear infections in infants and children.

Before the pneumococcal vaccine was added to the U.S. childhood immunization schedule in 2001,
-  there were 3,300 cases of pneumococcal meningitis (1 in 10 cases were deadly);
-  there were 13,000 blood infections;
-  100,000-135,000 people were hospitalized due to pneumonia;
-  there were 5-6 million ear infections in kids under five each year in the U.S.; and
-  14% of people who were hospitalized due to pneumococcal disease died.

By 2007, pneumococcal vaccine had reduced the incidence of disease caused by pneumococci bacteria by 99%. In 2010, the vaccine was updated to protect against six additional strains for a total of 13 strains.

Vaccine Recommendations

There are more than 90 types of pneumococcal bacteria; the vaccine, PCV13, protects against 13 strains. These 13 strains cause the most severe infections in children.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is given to children when they’re at greatest risk for severe diseases caused by pneumococcal infection: at two, four and six months, with another dose between 12 and 15 months.

Side Effects

No moderate or severe reactions have been associated with this vaccine. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, could cause serious problems such as severe allergic reaction. The risk of this vaccine causing serious harm is extremely small.

Mild problems can include:

• Drowsiness or loss of appetite (50%)
• Redness or tenderness where the shot was given (50%)
• Swelling at injection site (1 in 3)
• Mild fever (1 in 3) or high fever (1 in 20)
• Fussiness or irritability in infants (8 in 10)

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