Are There Side Effects To Pneumonia Vaccine

A Closer Look At The Safety Data

• A 2004 studyexternal icon found most VAERS reports in the first 2 years after licensure of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine were minor known side effects.
• Two large 2013 studies conducted in the United States and Europe in adults aged 50 years and older compared PCV13 with PPSV23. Common adverse events reported with PCV13 were pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site limited movement of the injected arm tiredness headache chills decreased appetite generalized muscle pain and joint pain. Similar reactions were observed in adults who received PPSV23.
• A 2012 studyexternal icon showed that children who received both 2010-2011 trivalent influenza vaccine and PCV13 at the same doctor visit had a higher risk of fever-related seizures .

Headache And Other Aches And Pains

After your shot, you might have headaches or some achiness and pain in the muscles throughout your body. This also usually happens on the first day and goes away within two days. Taking pain relievers can help ease your discomfort.

Its controversial whether its safe to take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to treat these vaccine side effects.

Some research suggests that these medications might change or decrease how your body responds to the vaccine. One study involving children found that taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen didnt reduce the bodys response to the flu vaccine.

Other research is mixed. Its still unclear whether these medications should be avoided.

Signs Of Pneumonia Vaccine Side Effects

As with any vaccination, there are potential side effects of the pneumonia vaccination. Common side effects include:

Injection site soreness

As with most shots and vaccinations, you may experience pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site .

Less than 1% of people who receive a pneumonia vaccine develop a fever. If your temperature is above 100.4 F , you have a fever.

Irritability

Irritability is a feeling of agitation. When you’re feeling irritable, you’re more likely to become frustrated or upset. In children, this may present as fussiness.

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Get The Pneumonia Vaccine At Your Local Pharmacy

We have a pneumonia vaccination service offering Prevenar 13 for anyone over 18, as long as its safe for you to have. You can book your vaccine online or come into store and speak to a pharmacist first to check its suitable for you. This is a great option for people who want to get vaccinated but who dont qualify for a free jab on the NHS.

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What Other Side Effects Have Been Reported

The following side effects were reported in people who received Pneumovax23, but it is unknown if they were caused by the vaccine:

• Anaphylactoid reactions
• Fever over 102ºF
• Hemolytic anemia in patients who have had other hematologic disorders
• Increased serum C-reactive protein
• Peripheral edema in the injected limb
• Radiculoneuropathy

Tags: pneumococcal

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What Types Of Pneumococcal Vaccines Are There

All babies and young children should receive the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine . Some children with medical conditions should also receive the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine . The number of doses depends on the medical condition. Talk to your childs doctor about which vaccines they recommend.

What May Interact With This Medicine

• medicines for cancer chemotherapy
• medicines that suppress your immune function
• medicines that treat or prevent blood clots like warfarin, enoxaparin, and dalteparin
• steroid medicines like prednisone or cortisone

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

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Add A Comment4 Comments

I had a senior flu shot in 2015 at 4:30 pm. About 12 hours later I woke up with a severe headache and pain starting under my left arm going across my chest. I thought I was having a heart attack. It was so fraightening I have not gotten one since. I am 88 years old.

• Saved My Life

I had a flu shot at 9 AM and at 11 AM that same day I experienced chest heaviness. I was not short ofbreath or having chest pain just chest heaviness I also at that time was experiencing a severe headache . Are these symptoms possible side effects?

Common side effects of the flu shot include:Soreness, redness, and/or swelling from the shot.Headache.

Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include:Difficulty breathingSwelling around the eyes or lipsHivesWeaknessA fast heartbeat or dizzinessLife-threatening allergic reactions to the flu shot are rare. These signs would most likely happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccine is given.

We can’t know if chest heaviness is related to the flu shot, it might be, though it’s not listed above. Check with your doctor.

Helena

Who Shouldn’t Get The Pneumonia Vaccine

If you don’t meet the recommendations for the pneumonia vaccine, you really don’t need to get it, pulmonary critical care expert Reynold Panettieri, MD, director of the Institute for Translational Medicine and Science at Rutgers University, tells Health. “It’s a risk-benefit ratio,” he explains. “If you’re under 65 and are otherwise healthy, your likelihood of developing pneumococcal pneumonia is unlikely,” he says.

But there are some people who explicitly shouldn’t get the vaccines, per the CDC. Those include:

• People who have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to PCV13, PPSV23, an early pneumococcal conjugate vaccine called PCV7, the DTaP vaccine, or any parts of these vaccines. Talk to your doctor if you’re unsure.
• People who are currently ill.

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Pneumococcal Infections After Influenza

Pneumococcus is known as an opportunistic infection because it lives in the respiratory tract of people without causing disease, but when the respiratory tract is compromised by an infection such as influenza, the bacteria then invades the lungs , bloodstream , or brain and spinal cord . Activities like smoking can also disrupt the lining of the nose and throat and allow for pneumococcal infections and subsequent disease.

Who Should Get Pneumococcal Vaccines

CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all children younger than 2 years old and all adults 65 years or older. In certain situations, older children and other adults should also get pneumococcal vaccines. Below is more information about who should and should not get each type of pneumococcal vaccine.

Talk to your or your childs doctor about what is best for your specific situation.

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Covid Vaccine Side Effects

Its helpful to understand side effects before you get a COVID-19 vaccine. For the vast majority of people already vaccinated in the U.S. for COVID-19, the side effects, if any, have been mild. Serious or persistent side effects associated with the approved or authorized vaccines are extremely rare.

Lisa Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H., senior director of infection prevention, and Gabor Kelen, M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response, help you understand side effects associated with the COVID-19 vaccines.

Who Should Get The Vaccine

People over age 65. As you age, your immune system doesnât work as well as it once did. Youâre more likely to have trouble fighting off a pneumonia infection. All adults over age 65 should get the vaccine.

Those with weakened immune systems. Many diseases can cause your immune system to weaken, so itâs less able to fight off bugs like pneumonia.

If you have heart disease, diabetes, emphysema, asthma, or COPD , youâre more likely to have a weakened immune system, which makes you more likely to get pneumonia.

The same goes for people who receive chemotherapy, people who have had organ transplants, and people with HIV or AIDS.

People who smoke. If youâve smoked for a long time, you could have damage to the small hairs that line the insides of your lungs and help filter out germs. When theyâre damaged, they arenât as good at stopping those bad germs.

Heavy drinkers. If you drink too much alcohol, you may have a weakened immune system. Your white blood cells donât work as well as they do for people with a healthy immune system.

People getting over surgery or a severe illness. If you were in the hospital ICU and needed help breathing with a ventilator, youâre at risk of getting pneumonia. The same is true if youâve just had major surgery or if youâre healing from a serious injury. When your immune system is weak because of illness or injury or because itâs helping you get better from surgery, you canât fight off germs as well as you normally can.

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What Are The Side Effects Of The Pneumonia Vaccines

PCV13 and PPSV23 can both cause mild side effects. Both pneumococcal vaccines are given in the arm and are injected into muscle. Children and adults may experience arm soreness, swelling, or redness where the shot was injected. Other side effects that may occur in adults include:

• Fatigue

• Drowsiness

PCV13 should not be given to children at the same time as the annual flu shot, because of an increased risk of . These seizures are caused by a high fever and occur in up to 5% of children under 5. They can be scary, but dont cause any long-term health problems.

The good news is that the side effects will resolve on their own within a few days.

What Are Some Other Side Effects Of This Drug

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Pain, redness, or swelling where the shot was given.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Muscle pain.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

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Can The Shots Cause Pneumonia Or Make You Sick

No. The pneumonia vaccines dont contain live bacteria, so they cant cause an infection. They wont cause pneumonia or other pneumococcal diseases. If you dont feel well after your vaccine, you should discuss your symptoms with your healthcare provider to find out whether they are related to the vaccine or caused by another illness.

Who Should Not Get These Vaccines

Because of age or health conditions, some people should not get certain vaccines or should wait before getting them. Read the guidelines below specific to pneumococcal vaccines and ask your or your childs doctor for more information.

Children younger than 2 years old should not get PPSV23. In addition, tell the person who is giving you or your child a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine if:

You or your child have had a life-threatening allergic reaction or have a severe allergy.

• Anyone who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any of the following should not get PCV13:
• A shot of this vaccine
• An earlier pneumococcal conjugate vaccine called PCV7
• Any vaccine containing diphtheria toxoid

You or your child are not feeling well.

• People who have a mild illness, such as a cold, can probably get vaccinated. People who have a more serious illness should probably wait until they recover. Your or your childs doctor can advise you.

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What Side Effects Are Possible With This Medication

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• reaction at place of injection such as redness, soreness, hard lump, swelling, pain
• mild fever

Although most of the side effects listed below don’t happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• aches or pain in joints or muscles
• altered skin sensation
• headache
• high fever or chills
• skin rash

Seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• signs of a serious allergic reaction such as:
• difficulty in breathing or swallowing
• hives
• itching, especially of feet or hands
• reddening of skin, especially around the ears
• swelling of eyes, face, or inside of nose
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• seizures

What Is The Pneumonia Shot

The pneumonia shot is a vaccine that keeps you from getting pneumonia. There are two types of vaccines. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is primarily for children under age two, though it can be given to older ages, as well. The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is for adults over age 65.

The pneumonia vaccine for older adults is one dose. Unlike the flu vaccine, you dont get it every year.

The vaccine teaches your body to make proteins that will destroy the pneumonia bacteria. These proteins are called antibodies and they will protect you and keep you from getting infected. The pneumonia vaccines dont have live bacteria or viruses in them, so you wont get pneumonia from the vaccine.

Continued

You should have the pneumonia vaccine if you:

• Are over age 65
• Have a long-term health problem
• Asthma

Vaccines dont prevent all pneumonia, but people who get the shot dont get as sick as those who dont have it. Benefits of the vaccine include:

• Milder infections

• Ringing in your ears
• Sweating

If you know you dont like needles or feel worried before getting a vaccine, you can try to look away while you have the shot. You can also try a relaxation technique like deep breathing or visualization to help you feel calm.

Older people are more likely to have long-term health problems that can make getting an infection dangerous. The pneumonia shot is recommended for most people.

Continued

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How The Pneumococcal Vaccine Works

Both types of pneumococcal vaccine encourage your body to produce antibodies against pneumococcal bacteria.

Antibodies are proteins produced by the body to neutralise or destroy disease-carrying organisms and toxins.

They protect you from becoming ill if you’re infected with the bacteria.

More than 90 different strains of the pneumococcal bacterium have been identified, although most of these strains do not cause serious infections.

The childhood vaccine protects against 13 strains of the pneumococcal bacterium, while the adult vaccine protects against 23 strains.

Can You Get The Flu Vaccine And Covid

You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine during the same visit, according to the CDC and based on extensive research with vaccines, Dr. Carney says. This gives people the opportunity to get vaccinated for both flu and COVID-19 at the same time, increasing their protection against both of these infections.

While there isnt a ton of information or research available on getting the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time, the CDC makes their recommendation based on research into how people react to other combinations of vaccines. Its not clear if getting both vaccines at the same time will increase your chances of having side effects. Early research done in the U.K. of 670 adults shows that people who received their second COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same time were more likely to have local reactions, which includes side effects like arm pain and swelling near the injection site, compared to people who only got the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the November 2021 paper published in The Lancet2.

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Cdc Recommends Pneumococcal Vaccination For Young Children Older Adults And Certain Other People

CDC recommends PCV13 for

• All children younger than 2 years old
• People 2 years or older with certain medical conditions

In addition, adults 65 years or older may discuss and decide, with their clinician, to receive PCV13.

CDC recommends PPSV23 for

• All adults 65 years or older
• People 2 through 64 years old with certain medical conditions
• Adults 19 through 64 years old who smoke cigarettes

Some groups may need multiple or booster doses. Talk with your or your childs clinician about what is best for your specific situation.

Side Effects Of The Pneumococcal Vaccine

Like most vaccines, the childhood and adult versions of the pneumococcal vaccine can sometimes cause mild side effects.

These include:

• redness where the injection was given
• hardness or swelling where the injection was given

There are no serious side effects listed for either the childhood or adult versions of the vaccine, apart from an extremely rare risk of a severe allergic reaction .

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