INFO - Pneumococcal Vaccine

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American College of Physicians

Pneumococcal Vaccine

Expert Interview: Dr. Poland on the Pneumococcal Vaccine

Facts about pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine: Pneumococcal disease

kills more people in the United States each year than all other

vaccine-preventable diseases combined. The pneumococcal polysaccharide

vaccine (PPV) protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria. Most

healthy adults who get the vaccine develop protection to most or all of

these types within 2 to 3 weeks of getting the shot. Very old people,

children under 2 years of age, and people with some long-term illnesses

might not respond as well or at all.

Who should get PPV?

All adults 65 years of age or older.

Anyone over 2 years of age who has a long-term health problem such as:

heart disease

sickle cell disease

alcoholism

lung disease

diabetes cirrhosis

leaks of cerebrospinal fluid

Anyone over 2 years of age who has a disease or condition that

lowers the body's resistance to infection, such as:

Hodgkin's disease

kidney failure

nephrotic syndrome

damaged spleen, or no spleen

lymphoma or leukemia

multiple myeloma

HIV infection or AIDS

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

certain cancer drugs

Alaskan Natives and certain Native American populations.

How many doses of PPV are needed?

Usually one dose is all that is needed. However, under some

circumstances a second dose may be given.

A second dose is recommended for those people aged 65 and older

who got their first dose when they were under 65, if more than 5

years has passed since that dose.

A second dose is also recommended for people who:

Have a damaged spleen or no spleen

Have sickle-cell disease

Have HIV infection or AIDS

Have cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma

Have kidney failure

Have nephrotic syndrome

Have had an organ or bone marrow transplant

Are taking medication that lowers immunity (chemotherapy,

long-term steroids, etc.)

Children 10 years old and younger may get this second dose 3 years after

the first dose. Those older that 10 should get it 5 years after the

first dose.

What are the risks for patients from PPV?

About half of those who get the vaccine have very mild side effects,

such as redness or pain where the shot was given. Less than 1% develop a

fever, muscle aches, or more severe local reactions. Severe allergic

reactions have been reported very rarely.

In the event of a moderate or severe reaction, physicians should

ascertain the date and time of the reaction as well as when the

vaccination was administered. Physicians should contact the Vaccine

Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) at 1-800-822-7967 or on the web.

Additional information is available from the CDC on Pneumococcal.

http://www.acponline.org/aii/ppv.htm

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org