Pneumococcal vaccines help to prevent pneumococcal disease caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Pneumococcal disease includes infection of the lungs (pneumonia), ear (otitis media), brain (meningitis), blood (bacteremia) and other serious infections.
Symptoms of pneumococcal disease vary depending on the infected organ. It can range from low-grade fever, cough, ear ache and chest pain, to more serious symptoms such as confusion or severe headaches.
What are the types of Pneumococcal vaccines available?
There are 2 types of pneumococcal vaccines available:
1. Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine (PCV13) 2. Pneumococcal Polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)
1. Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine (PCV13)
2. Pneumococcal Polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)
PCV13 protects against 13 pneumococcal bacteria strains that most commonly cause pneumococcal disease, while the PPSV23 protects against 23 strains. PCV13 when given before PPSV23, provides an extended protection in a selected group of patients, as compared to giving PPSV23 alone.
Who should receive the vaccine?
All infants should be given two doses of PCV13 (at ages 3 and 5 months), with a booster at 12 months. Children who fall behind should be given catch-up vaccination through to 59 months of age. You may refer to the Singapore National Childhood Immunisation Schedule or ask your child’s doctor for more details.
In the elderly aged 65 years and above, one dose each of PCV13 and PPSV23 is recommended.
Please consult your doctor for more details (e.g. on the number of recommended doses and vaccine type) for the following medical conditions:
Some people may feel faint after the vaccination
Soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site, slight headache, body aches or tiredness; fever of more than 38 C is not common
(i) These side effects usually go away on its own within 2 to 3 days
(ii) You may take Paracetamol to help to relieve the pain or fever
Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) are rare and can happen within minutes to a few hours after vaccination.
The symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include one or more of the following:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should inform your healthcare professional immediately.
It is given by injection into a muscle.
For individuals in which both PCV13 and PPSV23 are recommended, and who have yet to receive any pneumococcal vaccine, PCV13 should be given first, followed by PPSV23 a year later (or at least after a minimum interval of 8 weeks) for better protection.
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