What is pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-pediatric only), 7-valent?
Pneumococcal disease is a serious infection caused by a bacteria. Pneumococcal bacteria can
infect the sinuses and inner ear. It can also infect the lungs, blood, and brain, and these conditions can
be fatal.
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is used to prevent infection caused by pneumococcal
bacteria. PCV contains 7 different types of pneumococcal bacteria.
PCV works by exposing your child to a small dose of the bacteria or a protein from the
bacteria, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. PCV will not treat an active
infection that has already developed in the body.
PCV is for use only in children between the ages of 6 weeks and 10 years. For adults and
children who are 2 years of age and older, another vaccine called Pneumovax (pneumococcal
polysaccharides vaccine [PPV] 23-valent) is used.
Becoming infected with pneumococcal disease (such as pneumonia or meningitis) is much more
dangerous to your child's health than receiving the vaccine to protect against it. Like any medicine, this
vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
Like any vaccine, PCV may not provide protection from disease in every person.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-pediatric only), 7-valent?
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. If the child
ever has to receive another pneumococcal vaccine in the future, you will need to tell the doctor if the
first shot caused any side effects.
Your child should not receive this vaccine if he or she has ever had an allergic reaction to a
pneumococcal vaccine, or if the child has received cancer chemotherapy or radiation treatment in the
past 3 months.
Before receiving PCV, tell your doctor if your child is allergic to any drugs, or if the child has:
-
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia or easy
bruising;
-
a history of seizures;
-
an allergy to latex rubber;
-
a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow
transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
-
if the child is taking a blood thinner such as warfarin
(Coumadin).
Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a cold or fever. In the
case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before
receiving this vaccine.
How should I take pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-pediatric only), 7-valent?
This vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle. Your child will receive this injection in
a doctor's office or other clinic setting.
The PCV is given in a series of shots. The first shot is usually given when the child is 2 months
old. The booster shots are then given at 4 months, 6 months, and 12 to 15 months of age.
The first PCV injection should be given no earlier than 6 weeks of age. Allow at least 2 months
to pass between injections.
If your child is already 6 months or older, he or she can still receive this vaccine on the following
schedule:
-
Age 7-11 months: two injections at least 4 weeks apart, followed
by a third injection after the child turns 1 year (at least 2 months after the second injection);
-
Age 12-23 months: two injections at least 2 months apart;
-
Age 2-9 years: one injection.
The timing of this vaccination is very important for it to be effective.
Your child's individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's
instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.
A child who is 24 to 59 months old may need 1 or 2 additional doses of this vaccine if the child
did not receive all recommended doses on a prior schedule, or if the child has a certain medical
condition or weakened immune system.
Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin-free pain reliever such as
acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the
next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how much of this
medicine to give your child.
It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring in a child who has a seizure disorder
such as epilepsy.
Be sure to keep your child on a regular schedule for other immunizations such as diphtheria,
tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis, and varicella (chicken pox). Your doctor or state health
department can provide you with a recommended immunization schedule.
What happens if I miss a dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-pediatric only), 7-valent?
Contact your doctor if your child will miss a booster dose or gets behind schedule. The next
dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.
Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine. If your child does not
receive the full series of vaccines, he or she may not be fully protected against the disease.
Where can I get more information about pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-pediatric only), 7-valent?
Your pharmacist has information about pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-pediatric only), 7-valent written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-pediatric only), 7-valent?
Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening allergic
reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. When the
child receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side
effects.
Becoming infected with pneumococcal disease (such as pneumonia or meningitis) is much more
dangerous to your child's health than receiving the vaccine to protect against it. Like any medicine, this
vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
Get emergency medical help if your child has any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if your child has any of these serious side effects:
-
high fever (103 degrees or higher);
-
seizure (convulsions);
-
easy bruising or bleeding; or
-
severe pain, itching, irritation, or skin changes where the
shot was given.
Less serious side effects include
-
mild soreness, redness, swelling, or a hard lump where the shot was
given;
-
weakness, tired feeling;
-
crying, fussiness;
-
drowsiness, restless sleep;
-
low fever (102 degrees or less);
-
vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite; or
-
mild skin rash.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-pediatric only), 7-valent?
The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is given in a series of shots. The first shot is usually given
when the child is 2 months old. The booster shots are then given at 4 months, 6 months, and 12 to 15
months of age.
In a child older than 6 months who has not yet received a PCV, the first dose can be given any
time from the age of 7 months through 9 years.
If the child is less than 1 year old at the time of the first shot, he or she will need 2 booster
doses. If the child is 12 to 23 months old at the time of the first shot, he or she will need 1 booster
dose. A child who is 2 years or older at the time of the first shot may need only the one shot and no
booster doses.
The timing of this vaccination is very important for it to be effective. Your child's individual
booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the
schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. If the child
ever has to receive another PCV in the future, you will need to tell the doctor if the first shot caused any
side effects.
Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a cold or fever. In the case of a more
severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before receiving this
vaccine.
Becoming infected with pneumococcal disease (such as pneumonia or meningitis) is much more
dangerous to your child's health than receiving the vaccine to protect against it. Like any medicine, this
vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
Be sure to keep your child on a regular schedule for other immunizations against diseases
such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), measles, mumps, hepatitis, or varicella
(chicken pox). Your doctor or state health department can provide you with a recommended
immunization schedule.
What should I avoid while taking pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-pediatric only), 7-valent?
Avoid this vaccine while your child is undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments. You
may need to wait until it has been several months after your child has completed his or her treatments.
Follow your doctor's instructions.
What other drugs will affect pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-pediatric only), 7-valent?
Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor about all other vaccines your child has recently
received.
Also tell the doctor if your child has recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the
immune system, including:
-
an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;
-
medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or
other autoimmune disorders, such as azathioprine (Imuran), efalizumab (Raptiva), etanercept
(Enbrel), leflunomide (Arava), and others; or
-
medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection,
such as basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), muromonab-CD3
(Orthoclone), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).
If your child is using any of these medications, he or she may not be able to
receive the vaccine, or may need to wait until the other treatments are finished.
There may be other drugs that can affect this vaccine. Tell your doctor about all the
prescription and over-the-counter medications your child has received. This includes vitamins,
minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication
without telling your child's doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-pediatric only), 7-valent?
