How Long Does Pneumonia Vaccine Last Uk

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.

What Else Do I Need To Know Before Booking An Appointment

Only one vaccination is needed for long-lasting protection against pneumococcal pneumonia.

The vaccination can be given at any time of the year and can be given at the same time as other vaccinations, such as the flu jab. Our pharmacist will vaccinate into your upper arm so its best to wear a short-sleeved top to your appointment.

This service isnt suitable for anyone whos:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Currently having chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• Had an allergic reaction to any injections or vaccinations in the past
• Had a pneumonia vaccination in the last 12 months

This isnt a complete list and suitability will be checked before the vaccination is administered.

If you have a high temperature on the day of your appointment or you have any symptoms of COVID-19, your appointment will need to be rearranged.

An App Is Available To Help Implement Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations

The PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor app can help vaccination providers quickly determine which pneumococcal vaccines a patient needs and when. App users simply enter a patient’s age, note any specific underlying medical conditions or other risk factors, and answer a few questions about the patient’s pneumococcal vaccination history. The immediate result provides patient-specific guidance that is consistent with the recent updates to CDC’s adult immunization schedule.

The app is available for download on iOS and Android mobile devices, and there is also a desktop version for clinicians without a device that supports the app.

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I Feel Ill After Having My Vaccine What Should I Do

Experiencing mild side effects after having the coronavirus vaccine is common and isnt anything to worry about. They can happen up to a week after having the vaccine but are more common in the first couple of days. These symptoms can be treated with paracetamol if you need to.

If your symptoms get worse, or you are worried, call NHS 111 or your GP for advice. You can also report suspected side effects through the Yellow Card scheme. You can do this online by searching Coronavirus Yellow Card or by downloading the Yellow Card app.

A mild fever can occur within a day or two of vaccination. But if you have any other COVID-19 symptoms or your fever lasts longer, you should take appropriate steps by staying at home and arranging a test. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are:

• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

The coronavirus vaccine cannot give you COVID-19. But it is possible to catch the virus and not realise you had symptoms until after your vaccine appointment.

What Is A Pneumococcal Vaccine

A pneumococcal vaccine is an injection that can prevent pneumococcal disease. A pneumococcal disease is any illness that is caused by pneumococcal bacteria, including pneumonia. In fact, the most common cause of pneumonia is pneumococcal bacteria. This type of bacteria can also cause ear infections, sinus infections, and meningitis.

Adults age 65 or older are amongst the highest risk groups for getting pneumococcal disease.

To prevent pneumococcal disease, there are two types of pneumococcal vaccines: the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine .

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Important Information About All Medicines

Who Should Not Get The Vaccine

People should not get the vaccine if they have had a life threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose.

Additionally, a person should not undergo vaccination if they have had an allergic reaction to medication containing diphtheria toxoid or an earlier form of the pneumonia vaccination .

Lastly, people who are sick or have allergic reactions to any of the ingredients of the vaccine should talk to a doctor before getting the shot.

A pneumonia shot will not reduce pneumonia. However, it helps prevent invasive pneumococcal diseases, such as meningitis, endocarditis, empyema, and bacteremia, which is when bacteria enter the bloodstream.

Noninvasive pneumococcal disease includes sinusitis.

There are two types of pneumonia shots available. Which type a person gets depends on their age, whether or not they smoke, and the presence of any underlying medical conditions.

The two types are:

• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine : Healthcare providers recommend this vaccine for young children, people with certain underlying conditions, and some people over the age of 65 years.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine : Healthcare providers recommend this vaccine for anyone over 65 years of age, people with certain underlying conditions, and people who smoke.

According to the

• roughly 8 in 10 babies from invasive pneumococcal disease
• 45 in 100 adults 65 years or older against pneumococcal pneumonia
• 75 in 100 adults 65 years or older against invasive pneumococcal disease

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Getting The Most From Your Treatment

• If you have a high temperature or if you are acutely unwell at the time of your scheduled immunisation, your doctor or nurse may recommend delaying giving the vaccine. A minor illness will not interfere with the vaccine. If a delay is advised, you will be given an alternative appointment for the vaccination to be given.
• If you have been prescribed antibiotic tablets/capsules to help prevent pneumococcal infections, you should continue to take these as your doctor has prescribed. Do not stop taking your antibiotics because you have been vaccinated.
• If you are particularly at risk of infection you may need urgent antibiotic treatment if you suddenly feel unwell with a high temperature. Make an appointment to see your doctor straightaway if this happens.
• In addition to the three routine doses of Prevenar 13® for babies, children who are particularly at risk from pneumococcal infections may need to have a dose of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine when they are a little older. This may be recommended, for example, for a child who has previously had pneumonia and been admitted to hospital.

Does The Vaccine Work

It is estimated that in the first 11 years of the pneumococcal vaccine programme , the vaccine prevented nearly 40,000 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease, and about 2000 deaths.

The original version of the PCV was introduced in 2006. This vaccine protected against seven of the types of bacteria, and resulted in a big reduction in the number of cases of pneumococcal disease in babies caused by these seven types. However, there was an increase in the number of cases caused by other types of pneumococcal bacteria. Six strains in particular were identified as causing most of the new cases of pneumococcal disease.

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Babies And The Pneumococcal Vaccine

Babies are routinely vaccinated with a type of pneumococcal vaccine known as the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine as part of their childhood vaccination programme.

Babies born on or after 1 January 2020 have 2 injections, which are usually given at:

• 12 weeks old
• 1 year old

Babies born before this date will continue to be offered 3 doses, at 8 and 16 weeks and a booster at 1 year.

What Is The Pneumococcal Vaccine

The pneumococcal vaccine is an injection given to protect you from pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal disease develops from an infection caused by pneumococcal bacteria. The infection may cause pneumonia or an ear infection. Pneumococcal disease is spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. The vaccine comes in 2 forms, called pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine .

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Can I Have The Vaccine If Im Experiencing Symptoms Of Long Covid

There isnt any evidence to suggest the vaccine will cause symptoms of long COVID to be made worse. If youve had a confirmed case of coronavirus you should still have the vaccine when you are invited to do so. Although it is hoped people who have had the virus will have some level of immunity, this isnt guaranteed, and it is thought that vaccine-induced immunity will be stronger.

You should still be vaccinated when you have the opportunity and are fully recovered. If you are experiencing persisting symptoms of COVID-19 and are offered the vaccine, you should speak to your health care professional. Having persisting symptoms should not stop you having the COVID-19 vaccine. But, if you are experiencing these, your vaccination may be delayed until you are feeling better. This is so you know how you feel isn’t a side effect of the vaccine.

Pneumonia Jabs For Pensioners To Be Scrapped ‘as They Don’t Work’

No point: New research has revealed pneumonia jabs for the over-65s do not save lives, and so will now be scrapped

Pneumonia jabs for the over-65s are to be scrapped by the Government because they do not save lives.

Millions of pensioners have been vaccinated with a one-off jab that was supposed to give ten-year protection against an infection that causes pneumonia.

The vaccine programme is estimated to have swallowed up £100million with jabs costing around £20 each including GPs time since it was launched in 2005.

As recently as January, the Department of Health was issuing promotional leaflets for the jab despite a number of studies questioning whether it works.

But independent experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation , which advises the Government, claim it has had no discernible impact on rates of pneumococcal disease.

It said the protection provided by the vaccine is poor and not long- lasting in older people.

It has told the Governments director of immunisation, Professor David Salisbury, there is little benefit in continuing the programme and it should be stopped.

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Vaccination Of Infants Children And Adults 65 Years Or Older

CDC recommends routine administration of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for all children younger than 2 years of age:

• Give PCV13 to infants as a series of 4 doses, one dose at each of these ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 through 15 months.
• Children who miss their shots or start the series later should still get the vaccine. The number of doses recommended and the intervals between doses will depend on the childs age when vaccination begins.

View current schedules for children, teens, and adults.

CDC recommends routine administration of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine for all adults 65 years or older. In addition, CDC recommends PCV13 based on shared clinical decision-making for adults 65 years or older who do not have an immunocompromising condition, cerebrospinal fluid leak, or cochlear implant and have never received a dose of PCV13. Clinicians should consider discussing PCV13 vaccination with these patients to decide if vaccination might be appropriate. See Pneumococcal Vaccination: Summary of Who and When to Vaccinate for CDC guidance for shared clinical decision-making.

Date Released: 01/31/2020

Footnote

Is The Vaccine Safe For People With Lung Conditions

The vaccine is safe for people with lung conditions. The vaccine has been tested on people with long-term conditions and on people from a range of age groups, including older people. The JCVI has decided it is safe for people with long-term conditions and that people who are high-risk should be prioritised to get the vaccine first. There is no reason to think the vaccination interacts with any medications. Treatment you are on for your lung condition should continue as normal.

If you are on a blood thinner caller warfarin you should be going for regular blood tests to monitor the thickness of your blood. On the day of your vaccine appointment, make sure you know your latest reading and when you were last checked. If you dont know your reading, you can get it from your GP surgery. If your reading is unknown, it could mean your vaccination might not be able to go ahead. Vaccination centres dont have access to your medical records and so cant look up your reading on the day.

All approved vaccines have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness. All approved coronavirus vaccines must go through all the clinical trials and checks all other licensed medicines go through. Other vaccines are being developed and will only be available to the public once theyve been thoroughly tested.

You should only look at reliable sources of information about coronavirus vaccine that are updated regularly, such as this webpage and the NHS.

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Is One Vaccine Better Than The Other Will I Have A Choice In The Vaccine I Get

All approved vaccines are very effective and will save lives. They will have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness set by the MHRA . You will not be able to choose which vaccine you have, but you can be assured the vaccine you get will be highly effective and will protect you from coronavirus.

While the MHRA is not recommending age restrictions in the AZ vaccine use, JCVI has said that people under the age of 40 who are having their first dose should be offered another vaccine instead of the AstraZeneca vaccine, if its available to them.

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 .

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Does Having The Vaccine Stop Me From Giving The Virus To Other People

Data has now shown that being vaccinated prevents you from passing on the virus to others, if you were to catch COVID-19 after having the vaccine. Its thought that having one dose of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine cuts transmission rates by as much as half.

While this is encouraging news, its important that even after being vaccinated you continue to do what you can to prevent yourself from getting the virus. This includes following the social distancing guidance for where you live, wearing a face covering and continuing to regularly wash your hands.

If I Had The Flu Jab Last Year Do I Need To Get Another One Again

Yes. If you received the flu jab last year, you will not be protected against the flu virus in circulation for the upcoming year. Receiving an annual flu vaccine is the most effective way of protecting you and others around you from the flu through herd immunity.

Herd immunity works when enough people are vaccinated making it harder for the virus to spread throughout the community. For example, if one infected person enters a room of six people who have all been vaccinated, the chances of any them catching the flu are greatly reduced meaning the virus has nowhere to go.

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Immunisation Against Pneumococcal Disease For Adults

Adult immunisation against pneumococcal disease is available free of charge under the National Immunisation Program Schedule for:

• any person with certain serious medical risk conditions
• all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years or older
• people aged from 70 years.

Some medical risk conditions for which it is recommended to receive pneumococcal immunisation do not qualify for free immunisation under the National Immunisation Program. Speak to your doctor or immunisation provider for further information about the vaccine and its cost.

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Who Should Get The Pneumococcal Vaccine

• Adults aged 65 years or older may only need 1 dose. Another dose of either vaccine may be given, if they are at least 1 year apart. Your healthcare provider will tell you if you need more vaccine doses and when to get them.
• Adults aged 19 to 64 at high risk for pneumococcal disease will need 1 or more doses of the vaccine. If you are Native Alaskan or American Indian, ask your healthcare provider if you need the vaccine. Any of the following can increase your risk for pneumococcal disease:
• A chronic heart or lung disease, or diabetes
• Liver disease or alcoholism
• A cerebrospinal fluid leak or cochlear implant
• A damaged or removed spleen, or sickle cell disease
• A weak immune system, HIV, cancer, kidney failure, or an organ transplant
• Living in a nursing home or long-term care facility

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