Pneumococcal vaccine – types, indications, side effects. Pneumococcal vaccine prices

Proven content

Pneumococcus is a type of bacteria that causes diseases such as sepsis and meningitis. These bacteria are especially dangerous for babies, young children and adults. Read who should get the pneumococcal vaccine, what is the dosage of the vaccine, and can there be side effects?

Pneumococcal disease – general information

Pneumococcal diseases are symptomatic infections caused by bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae), commonly referred to as pneumococcus. Invasive pneumococcal disease is used to refer to more severe and invasive pneumococcal infections such as:

1. bacteremia,
2. sepsis,
3. meningitis,
4. osteomyelitis,

That is, diseases in which the bacteria can be isolated from normally sterile places. Pneumococcal infections and invasive pneumococcal disease are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases in Europe and the worldwith the greatest burden of disease occurring in young children and the elderly.

Vaccinations can prevent a large proportion of invasive pneumococcal disease. Diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae or pneumococcus) are a major public health problem worldwide. Other serious diseases that are often caused by pneumococci include:

1. otitis media
2. sinusitis,
3. bronchitis.

Also read: Treatment of bronchitis

Pneumococcal drug resistance

In the nineties, the main problem was the increasing pneumococcal infections. As a result, resistance to three or more types of antibiotics has also developed. These types of bacteria are known as multi-drug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (MDRSP).

MDRSP is a real problem because treatment is difficult and carries a higher risk of complications. Since the introduction of pneumococcal vaccines, there has been a reduced incidence of pneumococcal disease and therefore less use of antibiotics and a reduced risk of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Pneumococcal diseases – symptoms of infection

The symptoms of pneumococcal disease may differ from the type of pneumococcal infection. Some common symptoms that occur include:

1. high fever – 38 ° C or higher,
2. chills,
3. cold sweats
4. muscle and joint pain,
5. headaches,
6. general feeling of being unwell.

Pneumococcal Symptoms – When To Seek Medical Advice?

The appearance of certain symptoms should prompt you to consult your GP as soon as possible. This includes:

1. high temperature that lasts more than three days and does not decrease with antipyretics,
2. coughing up mucus with an admixture of blood,
3. rapid breathing (more than 30 breaths per minute) or chest pain
4. shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
5. excessive sleepiness,
6. confusion.

When to seek medical help if a child develops disturbing symptoms?

1. if a temperature of 38 ° C or / or higher appears in infants under three months of age,
2. if a temperature of 39 ° C or / or higher occurs in children from three to six months of age,
3. if children over two years of age develop high fever and the above-mentioned symptoms (general symptoms), lasting more than three days.

When to seek emergency medical help?

The most serious type of pneumococcal infection is bacterial meningitis, which requires immediate hospital admission for emergency treatment.

Bacterial meningitis has many early warning signs that may occur sooner than other symptoms. These are:

1. pain in the muscles, joints or limbs – for example, pain in the legs or hands
2. chills or unusually cold hands and feet
3. blue lips and pale or blotchy skin.

The deterioration of the above condition may lead to the appearance of:

1. a mottled red rash that does not fade or change color
2. sleepiness or confusion
3. seizures
4. inability to tolerate bright light – known as photophobia (less common in young children)
5. neck stiffness (also less common in young children),
6. fast breathing rate.

Symptoms of bacterial meningitis vary between infants and young children. Possible symptoms include:

1. flabbiness and unresponsiveness or stiffness with sudden movements
2. huge irritation,
3. inconsolable crying.

If you, a loved one or a child have the above-mentioned symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately, and it is best to call an ambulance, as they may indicate bacterial meningitis.

See: What is spasmodic torticollis?

Pneumococcal vaccine – who should get vaccinated?

There are certain groups of people who are more likely to get pneumococcal infection. Babies, young children attending nurseries and training courses, and people over 65 are the most vulnerable.

People at higher risk of pneumococcal infection are believed to be:

1. people with a spleen removed,
2. people who have problems with the proper functioning of the spleen,
3. people with long-term respiratory disease, e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
4. people with heart conditions, such as a congenital heart defect
5. people with chronic kidney disease,
6. people with chronic liver disease such as cirrhosis
7. diabetes
8. people with a weakened immune system caused by a medical condition such as HIV
9. people with a weakened immune system.

Pneumococcal vaccine – Vaccination Program

In Poland, pneumococcal vaccination has been mandatory for newborn babies since 2017. According to the Polish Immunization Program, vaccination against pneumococci should be started in the second month of life (after the age of 6 weeks) at the first vaccination visit.

In Poland, you are entitled to free pneumococcal vaccinations:

1. to all children born after December 31, 2016,
2. children born before December 31, 2016, up to the age of 5, belonging to the groups at increased risk of pneumococcal infection.

These groups are specified in the Preventive Immunization Program and include the following groups.

I. Children from 2 months of age to 5 years of age:

1. after an injury or with a defect of the central nervous system, leading to leakage of the cerebrospinal fluid,
2. HIV infected,
3. after bone marrow transplant, before or after internal organ transplant, or before or after cochlear implantation.

II. Children from 2 months of age to 5 years of age suffering from:

1. chronic heart disease,
2. immunological and hematological diseases, including idiopathic thrombocytopenia, acute leukemia, lymphomas, congenital spherocytosis,
3. congenital asplenia, spleen dysfunction, after splenectomy or after immunosuppressive treatment,
4. chronic renal failure and recurrent nephrotic syndrome,
5. primary immune disorders,
6. metabolic diseases, including diabetes,
7. chronic lung diseases, including bronchial asthma.

III. Children from 2 months of age to 12 months of age, born before the 27th week of pregnancy.

The editorial board recommends: How can people with bronchial asthma protect themselves against the coronavirus?

Pneumococcal vaccine – types

There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines available in Poland: conjugated and polysaccharide.

Conjugate vaccines contain purified capsular polysaccharides of 13 or 10 pneumococcal serotypes linked to a carrier protein. They are given to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), pneumonia and otitis media caused by by the pneumococcal serotypes contained in the vaccine. Depending on age, the vaccination cycle is 1-4 doses.

Two different conjugate vaccines are available:

1. decivalent vaccine (PCV-10). It consists of the capsular polysaccharides of the following serotypes 1, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F. The vaccine is registered for children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age. In addition, vaccine serotype 19F provides cross-protection against serotype 19A.
2. thirteen-valent vaccine (PCV-13)which replaced the hevivalent vaccine (PCV7). It consists of capsular polysaccharides of the following serotypes: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F. The vaccine is registered for children from 6 weeks of age, adolescents and adults.

Both conjugate vaccines are administered by the intramuscular route in the anterolateral aspect of the thigh in infants / in the deltoid muscle of young children and the elderly. They can be administered simultaneously with other vaccines from the vaccination schedule, but in different places.

From 2020, compulsory vaccination against pneumococci in the general population of children is carried out with the PVC-10 vaccine (2 + 1 scheme). Vaccination of premature babies (<37 weeks of pregnancy) will also be carried out with PCV-10 (scheme 3 + 1). The exception is children born <27 years of age. weeks of pregnancy who will be vaccinated with PCV-13.

Pneumococcal vaccine – dosage in children

The full course of vaccination against pneumococci, which provides optimal protection for the child, consists of several doses of vaccination and their administration is spread over time, in accordance with the currently valid Vaccination Program:

1. infants receive 3 doses of pneumococcal vaccination at 2, 4 and 13 – 15 months of age.

In turn, premature babies and children with certain diseases listed in the Protective Vaccination Program receive 4 doses of pneumococcal vaccination, which can be given in: 2, 4, 5-6, and between 11 and 15 months of age. This vaccine is free of charge.

With regard to other age groups, i.e. older children, adolescents and adults – they can of course vaccinate against pneumococci, but with a paid option.

See: Are you after your first dose of the vaccine? Check what your protection against COVID-19 is

Pneumococcal vaccine – adults

Optimal management of pneumococcal vaccination in the elderly and adults at risk is to administer:

1. 1 dose of PCV13 conjugated vaccine called Prevenar13,
2. 1 dose of PPSV23 polysaccharide vaccine called Pneumovax23 (administered 12 months after PCV13 or after ≥8 weeks in risk groups),
3. in adults ≥65. years of age, who had a dose of polysaccharide vaccine before the age of 65, one dose of conjugate vaccine should be administered, followed by the above dose of polysaccharide vaccine,
4. the derogation is only for the specific risk group of stem cell transplant patients where a different regimen is recommended. Please contact your doctor about this.

When the availability of PPSV23 vaccine is limited, adults should be vaccinated with 1 dose of PCV13 vaccine, which provides protection, also in groups at increased risk of community acquired pneumococcal pneumonia.

Pneumococcal vaccine – contraindications

An absolute contraindication to pneumococcal vaccination is an immediate anaphylactic reaction that occurred after the previous dose of the vaccine and hypersensitivity to any of the vaccine components.

As with other vaccines, administration of the pneumococcal vaccine should be postponed in patients suffering from an acute infection or a febrile illness.

The conjugate vaccine is only intended for use in children and therefore its safety for pregnant and lactating women is unknown.

Pneumococcal vaccine – the price of the vaccine

In light of the worrying data on the number of cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) decided to hit pneumococci. The vaccine is available today in 134 countries around the world. Some European countries have included her in their compulsory immunization program. The pneumococcal vaccine, depending on the type, costs from PLN 100 to PLN 300.

Not only are pneumococci dangerous, therefore genetic screening for SMA should be performed in newborns. It is worth remembering that spinal muscular atrophy can appear at any age.

The editorial board recommends: Examination for SMA. Find out if your child has spinal muscular atrophy

Pneumococcal vaccine – side effects

Your doctor who gives you the vaccine should inform you about the side effects of the pneumococcal vaccine. The information must also be included in the vaccine leaflet. Occasionally, the pneumococcal vaccine may cause mild reactions in the first 3 days after vaccination. In addition, there may be redness and swelling around the injection site.

In extreme cases, the pneumococcal vaccine can cause:

1. mild fever
2. temporary loss of appetite,
3. vomiting,
4. thinning stool
5. general feeling of being unwell.

Content from the site medTvoiLokony they are intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and his doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.