Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) can cause serious infections, including meningitis and pneumonia, that can be fatal in young children. This also is true in older children with a chronic medical condition or a weakened immune system.
Before infants were routinely immunized against pneumococcus in the United States, there were approximately 17,000 cases of invasive disease each year among children younger than 5 years of age, including 700 cases of meningitis and 200 deaths.
Timing and dose — Children should receive a total of four doses of pneumococcal vaccine. Doses should be given at 2, 4, and 6 and 12 to 15 months of age. The first dose can be given as early as 6 weeks of age. For children who do not receive vaccinations on this schedule, a catch-up schedule is provided.
Pneumococcal vaccine precautions — The most common side effect of the vaccine is an injection site reaction (redness, pain) and fever.
Pneumococcal vaccine effectiveness — Pneumococcal vaccine is more than 90 percent effective in preventing invasive illness.
Before infants were routinely immunized against pneumococcus in the United States, there were approximately 17,000 cases of invasive disease each year among children younger than 5 years of age, including 700 cases of meningitis and 200 deaths.
Timing and dose — Children should receive a total of four doses of pneumococcal vaccine. Doses should be given at 2, 4, and 6 and 12 to 15 months of age. The first dose can be given as early as 6 weeks of age. For children who do not receive vaccinations on this schedule, a catch-up schedule is provided.
Pneumococcal vaccine precautions — The most common side effect of the vaccine is an injection site reaction (redness, pain) and fever.
Pneumococcal vaccine effectiveness — Pneumococcal vaccine is more than 90 percent effective in preventing invasive illness.
