Pneumovax 23

Generic Name: pneumococcal 23-valent vaccine
Other Brand Names: Pnu-Imune 23, pneumococcal 23-valent vaccine

What is pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV adult, 23-valent)?

Pneumococcal disease is a serious disease caused by a bacteria. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) exposes the individual to a small dose of the bacteria (or a protein from the bacteria) and causes the body to develop immunity to the disease.

Pneumococcal infection can cause ear infection, sinus infection, pneumonia, blood infection (bacteremia), and meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain). About 1 out of every 20 people who get pneumococcal pneumonia dies from it, as do about 2 out of every 10 who get bacteremia, and 3 out of 10 who get meningitis. Pneumococcal disease kills more people in the United States every year than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined.

PPV (adult, 23-valent) is recommended for: all adults 65 years of age and older; anyone over 2 years of age who has long-term health problems such as sickle cell disease; heart disease; lung disease; alcoholism; diabetes; cirrhosis; or leaks of cerebrospinal fluid; anyone over 2 years of age who has a condition that lowers the body’s resistance to infection such as: Hodgkin’s disease, lymphoma, leukemia, kidney failure, multiple myeloma, nephrotic syndrome, damaged spleen or no spleen, or organ transplant; anyone over 2 years of age who is taking any drug or treatment that lowers the body’s resistance to infection such as long-term steroids, radiation therapy, and certain cancer drugs; and all Alaskan natives and certain Native American populations.

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine can help prevent the disease. Many more people would get the disease if vaccination did not occur.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV adult, 23-valent)?

Anyone who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction after receiving a dose of PPV should not get another dose.

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. Those who are moderately or severely ill or have a fever should usually wait until they recover before getting pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

Before receiving PPV, talk to your doctor if you:

  • are over the age of 65 years and if the first dose was given when you were younger than 65 and 5 or more years have passed since that dose;

  • have HIV or AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system;

  • are taking a medication that affects the immune system (e.g. steroids, anti-rejection medications);

  • have had an organ or bone marrow transplant;

  • have cancer;

  • are receiving cancer treatment with x-rays, radiation, or medication;

  • have a damaged spleen or no spleen;

  • have sickle-cell disease; or

  • have kidney failure or nephrotic syndrome.

A second dose of the vaccine may be recommended in some cases.

Talk to your doctor before receiving pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV adult, 23-valent)?

Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will administer the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine as an injection.

Most people need only one dose of PPV.

A second dose may be recommended for some individuals. Your healthcare provider will determine if a second dose is needed and when it should be given.

Otherwise healthy children who often get ear infection, sinus infection, or other upper respiratory diseases do not need to get PPV because of these conditions.

Your doctor may recommend reducing fever or pain that may occur by taking an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra, others) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Your healthcare provider can tell you the appropriate dosages of these medications.

What happens if I miss a dose of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV adult, 23-valent)?

Since only one dose of the vaccine is usually given, missing a dose should not occur. If a second dose is recommended and it is missed or delayed, contact your doctor.

Where can I get more information about pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV adult, 23-valent)?
Your pharmacist has information about pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV adult, 23-valent) written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV adult, 23-valent)?

Getting pneumococcal disease is much riskier than getting pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.

Seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if any of the following rare but serious side effects from pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine are experienced:

  • a serious allergic reaction including swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; hives; paleness; weakness; dizziness; or a fast heart beat within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot; or

  • high fever; or

  • behavior changes.

About half of those who get PPV have very mild side effects, such as redness or pain where the shot is given. Less and 1% develop fever, muscle aches, or more severe local reactions.

Your doctor may recommend reducing fever or pain that may occur by taking an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra, others) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Your healthcare provider can tell you the appropriate dosages of these medications.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Contact your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV adult, 23-valent)?

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. Those who are moderately or severely ill or have a fever should usually wait until they recover before getting pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

What should I avoid while taking pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV adult, 23-valent)?

There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity before or after receiving pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

What other drugs will affect pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV adult, 23-valent)?

Talk to your doctor before receiving pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine if you are taking any of the following medications that may affect the immune system:

  • an oral or injectable steroid medication such as betamethasone (Celestone), cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred), prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone, others), or triamcinolone (Aristocort);

  • an inhaled or nasal steroid such as beclomethasone (Qvar, Beclovent, Beconase, Vanceril, Vancenase), budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort), flunisolide (Aerobid, Nasalide, Nasarel), fluticasone (Flovent, Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex), or triamcinolone (Azmacort, Nasacort);

  • treatment for cancer with chemotherapy (medication), radiation, or x-rays;

  • azathioprine (Imuran);

  • basiliximab (Simulect);

  • cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf);

  • etanercept (Enbrel);

  • leflunomide (Arava);

  • muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone);

  • mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept);

  • sirolimus (Rapamune); or

  • tacrolimus (Prograf).

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccinations.

What happens if I have an overdose of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV adult, 23-valent)?

An overdose of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is unlikely to occur.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008