Infection with streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria can cause serious illness and death. Invasive pneumococcal disease is responsible for about 10-20 deaths each year among children under 5 years old in Canada.
Each year pneumococcal infection causes severe disease in children under five years old (over 70 cases of meningitis, 1,300 blood infections, and about 500,000 ear infections).
It can also lead to other health problems, including:
- Pneumonia
- Deafness
- Brain damage
Children under 2 years old are at highest risk for serious disease.
Pneumococcus bacteria are spread from person to person through close contact.
Pneumococcal infections can be hard to treat because the bacteria have become resistant to some of the drugs that have been used to treat them. This makes prevention of pneumococcal infections even more important.
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine can help prevent serious pneumococcal disease, such as meningitis and blood infections. It can also prevent some ear infections. But ear infections have many causes, and pneumococcal vaccine is effective against only some of them.
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is approved for infants and toddlers.
Protection lasts at least 3 years, so children who are vaccinated when they are infants will be protected when they are at greatest risk for serious disease.
Some older children and adults may get a different vaccine called pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.
Recommendations for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
Children under 2 years of age:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 12 to 15 months
Children who weren't vaccinated at these ages can still get the vaccine. The number of doses needed depends on the child's age. Ask your health care provider for details.
Children between 2 and 5 years of age:
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is also recommended for children between 2 and 5 years old who have not already gotten the vaccine and are at high risk of serious pneumococcal disease. This includes children who have:
- Sickle cell disease
- A damaged spleen or no spleen
- HIV/AIDS
- Other diseases that affect the immune system, such as diabetes,
- Cancer, or liver disease, or who take medications that affect the immune system, such as chemotherapy or steroids
- Chronic heart or lung disease
The vaccine should be considered for other children who are at increased risk of serious pneumococcal disease. This includes children who:
- Are under 3 years of age,
- Are of Alaska Native, American Indian or African American descent
- Attend group day care
The number of doses needed depends on the child's age. Ask your healthcare provider for more details.
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.
Who should not get pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
Children should not get pneumococcal conjugate vaccine if they had a severe (life-threatening) allergic reaction to a previous dose of this vaccine, or have a severe allergy to a vaccine component. Tell your health-care provider if your child has ever had a severe reaction to any vaccine, or has any severe allergies.
Who should wait
Children with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. But children who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine.
Risks associated with the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
In studies (nearly 60,000 doses), pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was associated with only mild reactions:
Up to about 1 infant out of 4 had redness, tenderness, or swelling where the shot was given.
Up to about 1 out of 3 had a fever of over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit; and up to about 1 in 50 had a higher fever (over 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit).
Some children also became fussy or drowsy, or had a loss of appetite.
So far, no moderate or severe reactions have been associated with this vaccine. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, could cause serious problems, such as a severe allergic reaction. The risk of this vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.
Moderate or severe reactions
Beware of any unusual condition, such as a serious allergic reaction, high fever, or unusual behavior. Serious allergic reactions are extremely rare with any vaccine. If one were to occur, it would most likely be within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. Signs can include:
Difficulty breathing
- Hoarseness or wheezing
- Hives
- Paleness
- Weakness
- Fast heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Swelling of the throat
What to do
Call a doctor or get the person to a doctor right away. Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given. Ask your health care provider to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System
This material is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the medical advice of your doctor or any other health care professional. Always consult with your physician if you are in any way concerned about your health.
