OVERVIEW
Pneumococcus can not only cause pneumonia in children, but is also a vector microorganism for diseases such as meningitis and otitis media. Pneumococcal vaccine is used to prevent pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis caused by pneumococcus. It is a polysaccharide vaccine made by culturing and purifying polysaccharides of the most common and invasive pneumococcal serotypes or a conjugate inactivated vaccine made by binding polysaccharides to carrier proteins and adsorbing them.
Indications
Pneumococcal vaccine is currently classified as a Class II vaccine in China, and parents voluntarily pay for the vaccination according to the situation of their children and families. Pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for infants, children, the elderly and immunocompromised people with poor physical condition.
1. Adult Vaccination
(1) Chronic patients, especially patients with cardiovascular disease and chronic pulmonary disease with increased incidence of respiratory infections.
(2) Acute patients, especially those with pneumococcal disease or its complications of risk of splenic dysfunction, anasarca, Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma, cirrhosis of the liver, alcoholism, renal failure, chronic cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and immunosuppressive therapy.
(3) Healthy elderly people over 50 years old.
2. Children vaccination
Including frail children over 2 years old.
Clinical application
Shake well before use for intramuscular injection only. The preferred site is the anterolateral region of the thigh in infants or the deltoid muscle of the upper arm in children.
China is currently using mainly 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, and the 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine that has been used abroad has not yet been introduced into the domestic market. 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine recommended vaccination procedures are:
Basic immunization for infants between 3 and 6 months of age, 3 doses of 0.5 ml each; 1 dose at 3, 4 and 5 months of age for basic immunization, and 1 dose at 12 to 15 months of age for booster immunization.
Infants 7～11 months of age should receive 2 doses of basic immunization (at least 1 month interval), 0.5ml for each dose; the third dose should be given after 12 months of age, at least 2 months interval from the second dose.
Infants and young children 12 to 23 months of age should receive 2 doses of 0.5 ml each; the interval between each dose should be at least 2 months.
2～5 years of age should receive 1 dose.
Adverse reactions
Reactions such as loss of appetite, disturbed sleep, fever, joint and muscle pain, and rash may occur after pneumonia vaccination. A very small number of people will also develop headache and fever. When the body temperature exceeds 38.5℃, physical cooling can be taken, and antipyretic drugs can be taken if necessary. Generally vaccine reactions disappear within 2 to 3 days after vaccination. Pneumococcal vaccination can only prevent or reduce pneumonia, otitis media, septicemia or meningitis caused by this bacterium, but not prevent all pneumonia. Therefore, do not have the wrong perception that you will not get pneumonia if you have received pneumococcal vaccine.
Precautions
1. In patients with Hodgkin’s disease, if vaccination is needed, it can be given 10 days before the start of treatment. If radiotherapy or chemotherapy is administered, it should be given at least 14 days before the start of treatment in order to generate the most effective immune response to the antibody. Immunization is not recommended less than 10 days before the start of treatment or during treatment.
2. Caution should be exercised when administering 23-valent Pneumovax vaccine to patients with severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction, as quite severe systemic reactions may occur. Any febrile respiratory disorder and some active infections should be postponed for 23-valent pneumonia vaccine.
3. For splenectomized persons, booster immunization should be given every 5 years. Children under 10 years of age with splenectomy or sickle cell anemia should receive booster immunization every 3 to 5 years.
4. Immunodeficient patients should be immunized two weeks before operation.
Contraindication
Contraindicated for those who are allergic to any components of the vaccine. Use with caution in pregnancy and lactating women.