Whats In The Pneumonia Vaccine
The first thing to know is that there are two types of pneumonia vaccine:
- Prevenar 13 pneumococcal conjugate vaccine which is given to babies and young children as part of their routine NHS vaccinations. It can also be given to adults who arent in a high-risk group. This type prevents against 13 strains of bacteria that can cause pneumonia.
- Pneumovax 23 pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine which is given to people over 65 and anyone with a health condition that makes them high-risk for pneumonia and its complications. This type prevents against 23 strains of bacteria that can cause pneumonia.
Both of these vaccines work in the same way: by encouraging your body to produce antibodies which can fight off pneumococcal bacteria the bacteria that cause pneumonia. Once youve had the vaccine, your body will be better able to fight off infection.
This year to help support the NHS we are just offering the Prevenar 13 vaccination in our stores. This is so the NHS has enough of the Pneumovax 23 to vaccinate those in our communities who are most at risk of catching pneumonia. If you fall into the NHS high-risk category, please contact your GP for advice and to have Pneumovax 23.
About The Pneumonia Vaccine
Pneumonia is a common enough illness, but its one that can have potentially devastating reactions. Fortunately, theres a way to prevent the serious side effects of the disease, and possibly prevent someone from getting it to begin with.
The pneumonia vaccine is a safe way to prevent most cases, and effectively lowers the chances of catching the disease entirely. People who do get pneumonia after getting the pneumonia vaccination anyway will have a much milder case of the disease if they do happen to contract it.
Patients In Health Care Institutions
Residents of long-term care facilities should receive Pneu-P-23 vaccine. Refer to Recommendations for Use for information about pneumococcal vaccination of individuals at increased risk of IPD. Refer to Immunization of Patients in Health Care Institutions in Part 3 for additional information about vaccination of patients in health care institutions.
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Here We Explain Side Effects Of The Moderna Booster Vaccine While Taking A Look At The Omicron Variant
The world is facing the rapidly escalating consequences of the Omicron variant, while bracing for fresh waves of infection from all forms of COVID-19.
In the UK, booster shots of Moderna and Pfizer are being given to the entire population. This roll-out comes in the wake of data suggesting that the NHS will be overwhelmed by case levels in early 2022, which will impact other services such as cancer care and planned surgeries.
Right now, the UK is 70% double vaccinated, then 41% of people have their booster shot. In countries with low levels of vaccination, a new variant is the difference between life and death. These countries are still fighting to access COVID vaccines at an affordable price.
However, people continue to spread misinformation about the Moderna booster, despite widespread use as a primary double-jab. Weve written about basic Moderna side effects in the past, which you can read here.
People With Medical Risk Factors
In addition to the 3 doses of 13vPCV routinely recommended for healthy non-Indigenous children < 5 years of age, children 12 months of age with risk conditions for pneumococcal disease are recommended to receive:
- An additional dose of at 6 months of age
- a dose of at 4 years of age
- a 2nd dose of at least 5 years after the 1st dose of 23vPPV
This is because of the higher disease burden and the possibility of lower antibody responses in these children.2-4
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children diagnosed with risk conditions at 12 months of age who live in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia already receive these extra doses as part of their routine schedule.
Any child aged 6 to 11 months with a newly identified risk condition who has not received an additional dose of 13vPCV at 6 months of age should receive this dose at diagnosis. The exception is children who have received a haematopoietic stem cell transplant these children are recommended to receive 3 doses of 13vPCV after transplantation, followed by 2 doses of 23vPPV
All children and adults with newly identified risk conditions are recommended to receive:
- 1 dose of at diagnosis (at least 2 months after any previous doses of 13vPCV
- or at 4 years of age whichever is later
- a 2nd dose of 23vPPV at least 5 years later
See also Vaccine information and Variations from product information for more details.
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What Is The Pneumonia Vaccine Exactly
The pneumonia vaccine helps prevent pneumococcal disease, which is any kind of illness caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. That includes pneumonia and meningitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . There are actually two types of pneumococcal vaccines in the US:
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, known as PCV13
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, known as PPSV23
PCV13 protects against 13 types of bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease, the CDC says, and specifically works against the most serious types of pneumococcal disease, including pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia. PPSV23 protects against 23 types of bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease and helps prevent infections like meningitis and bacteremia.
The pneumococcal vaccines can be lifesaving. Pneumococcal pneumonia kills about one in 20 older adults who get it, according to the CDC. The vaccines offer a lot of protection. PCV13 can protect three in four adults ages 65 and up against invasive pneumococcal disease and nine in 20 adults ages 65 and older against pneumococcal pneumonia, per CDC data. One shot of PPSV23 protects up to 17 in 20 healthy adults against invasive pneumococcal disease.
Can I Get Heart Inflammation From Taking The Vaccine
Yes, there is a very rare possibility.
When people are diagnosed with heart inflammation after taking an mRNA vaccine, they face a very rare chance of death or severity of illness.
Myocarditis, also known as heart inflammation, was found to be associated with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine although extremely rare, and mostly mild. In a study on over one million Pfizer-vaccinated people in Israel, scientists found 2.7 excess cases of heart inflammation per 100,000 vaccinated individuals.
Heart inflammation was also mostly found in men aged between 20 and 34, when it was found at all. Essentially, there were just 11 excess cases of heart inflammation per 100,000 infected individuals.
There is no Moderna-specific study on a similar scale, but global medical authorities continue to keep their finger on the pulse of how a vaccine is working. If a potential risk ever becomes substantial, then vaccine guidelines will be updated.
Recommended Reading: What Kinds Of Pneumonia Are Contagious
Pneumococcal Vaccine Side Effects
Pneumococcal vaccination can have some side effects. Some of the common pneumonia vaccine side effects are:
In adults, after receiving the Pneumococcal vaccination, they may experience
- fatigue,
- injection site reactions like redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, or a hard lump
- limitation of arm movement,
- sleeping more or less than usual,
- Chills,
- low grade fever .
- In infants and toddlers, common side effects of the pneumonia vaccine include the above, and:
- crying,
Side Effects Of The Pneumococcal Vaccine In Adults And Older Children
Mild side effects of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine , the version of the pneumococcal vaccine given to adults and children over the age of 2, include:
- mild soreness or hardness at the site of the injection lasting 1 to 3 days
- a slightly raised temperature
More serious side effects of the PPV vaccine, such as allergic reactions, are rare.
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How Is The Pneumococcal Vaccine Made
Like the Hib vaccine, the pneumococcal vaccine is made from the sugar coating of the bacteria. Antibodies directed against the pneumococcal polysaccharide protect the child without having to take the risk that their first encounter with natural pneumococcus will result in permanent disabilities or death.
Unfortunately, children less than 2 years old don’t develop very good immune responses to this polysaccharide alone. So the pneumococcal vaccine was made in a manner similar to the Hib vaccine . The pneumococcal polysaccharide is linked to a harmless protein. This version of the vaccine is referred to as the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Once linked, young children are able to make an immune response to the polysaccharide. The big difference between the pneumococcal vaccine and the Hib vaccine is the number of different types of polysaccharides that need to be included in the vaccine. Whereas, there is really only one strain of Hib that causes disease in children, there are about 90 different strains of pneumococcus. Fortunately, most of the serious disease in young children is caused by the 13 strains of pneumococcus contained in the vaccine.
The pneumococcal vaccine was found to be highly effective in preventing severe pneumococcal infection in a large trial of children injected with the vaccine. About 40,000 children were included in the initial trial of the vaccine. Since its licensure, the pneumococcal vaccine has been given to millions of children safely.
Allergic Reactions To The Pneumococcal Vaccine
Very occasionally, a child or adult may have a serious allergic reaction after either type of pneumococcal vaccination.
Known as an anaphylactic reaction, this can cause life-threatening breathing difficulties.
Anaphylaxis is a rare, serious side effect that can happen within minutes of the injection. It’s very alarming at the time, but it can be treated with adrenaline.
The doctor or nurse giving the vaccine will have been trained to know how to treat anaphylactic reactions.
Provided they receive treatment promptly, children and adults make a complete recovery.
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Possible Side Effects From Vaccines
Any vaccine can cause side effects. For the most part these are minor and go away within a few days. Listed below are vaccines licensed in the United States and side effects that have been associated with each of them. This information is copied directly from CDCs Vaccine Information Statements , which in turn are derived from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations for each vaccine.
Remember, vaccines are continually monitored for safety, and like any medication, vaccines can cause side effects. However, a decision not to immunize a child also involves risk and could put the child and others who come into contact with him or her at risk of contracting a potentially deadly disease.
A Look At Each Vaccine: Pneumococcal Vaccine
Much like Haemophilus influenzae type b , pneumococcal bacteria affect the most defenseless of the population . The diseases caused by pneumococcus include meningitis , bloodstream infections and pneumonia . The pneumococcal vaccine was first introduced for use in all infants in the United States in 2000. Before the vaccine, every year pneumococcus caused about 700 cases of meningitis, 17,000 cases of bloodstream infections, 200 deaths and 5 million ear infections in children.
Infants and young children are at greatest risk of serious infection because they are unable to develop immunity to the sugar that coats the bacteria, something that older children can do when they are more than 2 years of age.
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What Are The Side Effects
Vaccines are very safe. It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get pneumococcal disease.
Many people have no side effects from the vaccines. For those that do, side effects are usually mild and last 1 to 2 days . Serious side effects are very rare.
It is important to stay in the clinic for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine because there is a very rare possibility, between one in 100,000 and one in a million, of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue or lips. Should this reaction occur, your health care provider is prepared to treat it. Emergency treatment includes injection of epinephrine and transfer by ambulance to the nearest emergency department. If symptoms develop after you leave the clinic, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
It is important to always report serious or unexpected reactions to your immunizing health care provider.
What To Do If Your Child Is Unwell After The Vaccine
Its possible that your child may feel unwell after receiving a dose of the pneumococcal vaccine. Should this happen, there are ways to help ease their symptoms.
If your child has a fever, try to keep them cool. You can do this by providing cool liquids for them to drink and ensuring theyre not wearing too many layers.
Tenderness, redness or discoloration, and swelling at the site of the shot can be eased by applying a cool compress. To do this, wet a clean washcloth with cool water and place it gently on the affected area.
Symptoms like fever and pain at the site of the shot may be alleviated using over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen . Be sure to use the infant formulation and to carefully follow the dosing instructions on the product packaging.
Prior to being approved for use, the safety and effectiveness of all vaccines must be rigorously evaluated in clinical trials. Lets take a look at some of the research into the effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccines.
A evaluated the effectiveness of the PCV13 vaccine in children. It found that:
- The vaccine effectiveness of PCV13 against the 13 pneumococcal strains included in the vaccine was 86 percent.
- The vaccine effectiveness against pneumococcal disease due to any strain of S.pneumoniae was 60.2 percent.
- The effectiveness of PCV13 didnt differ significantly between children with and without underlying health conditions.
The CDC also notes that more than
You shouldnt get the PCV13 vaccine if youre:
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Can I Experience Hair Loss After The Moderna Booster
Currently, hair loss is a COVID side effect, not a vaccine one.
Studies are finding a connection between COVID infection and hair loss, as a long-term impact of having survived the virus.
scientists found that COVID increased the likelihood of acute telogen effluvium a non-scaring hair loss. This condition usually occurs 3 months after the stressful event that causes hair shedding, and lasts up to 6 months.
In a more general focus on long-term effects of COVID, which remain relatively obscure despite the two-year period of the virus, scientists also noted that hair loss was an issue.
Dr Chaolin Huang, writing a study of released COVID patients, explained that: The primary outcomes included symptoms , exercise capacity , health-related quality of life , lung function, and chest CT pattern at follow-up.
Read More About Covid
And while it isn’t clear why the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines knock some people around more than others, age seems to play a role.
A recent survey of over 600,000 people in the UK who had received either one or two shots of Pfizer or a first dose of AstraZeneca found that younger people, women, and those who had previously had COVID-19 were more likely to report side effects after getting the jab.
“Younger people tend to react more strongly because their immune system is primed to respond to any potential introduction of the vaccine or the bug itself compared to older people,” Dr Cheng said.
The only exception is those who are on medications that suppress the immune system, such as chemotherapy and steroids.
“We expect that they may not actually get a response or many symptoms because their immune system has been artificially dampened by the medication or the treatment they’re on,” Dr Cheng said.
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When To Get The Vaccine
Thereâs no such thing as pneumonia season, like flu season. If you and your doctor decide that you need to have a pneumonia vaccine, you can get it done at any time of the year. If itâs flu season, you can even get a pneumonia vaccine at the same time that you get a flu vaccine, as long as you receive each shot in a different arm.
What May Interact With This Drug
- medicines for cancer chemotherapy
- medicines that suppress your immune function
- medicines that treat or prevent blood clots like warfarin, enoxaparin, and dalteparin
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Mctlaw Won $170k In Compensation For Prevnar13 Vaccine Injury
Our firm represented a recently retired 67-year-old woman who suffered from reflex sympathetic dystrophy , also known as complex regional pain syndrome , after getting the Prevnar 13 vaccine. She felt something was wrong within a few days after the shot. Her shoulder turned red and swelled up to the size of a softball. It progressed to extreme pain where the slightest touch or movement became unbearable. Doctors gave her nerve blocks and pain medication, but no treatment fully worked.
Before her injury, she helped take care of her eight grandchildren, managed the family farm, and ran a food bank with the produce from their land. Now, she still suffers from painful flare ups and had to stop doing the work that fulfills her. Her mctlaw vaccine injury lawyers won a $170,000 compensation settlement from the Vaccine Injury Program to cover past and future pain and suffering due to the injury, as well as an amount for her medical expenses.