Prevenar

Details

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Pneumococcal conjugate Vaccine (7-valent) is used to protect children from pneumococcal disease. It protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria. This vaccine is available by the name of Prevenar worldwide.

Purpose:

• Prevenar protects the body against severe lung diseases.
• It also prevents Streptococcus Pneumoniae bacterium from entering the body.
• This vaccine also provides protection against Bacterial Meningitis.
• Other infections like Sinus, Bacteremia, Pneumonia and Otitis media are obstructed by this vaccine from attacking the body.

 

Mechanism:

This vaccine contains weakened Streptococcus Pneumoniae bacterium and is injected intramuscularly. When it enters the body, our immune system responses immediately and produces antibodies against this foreign antigen. In this manner, we get immunity against this disease which prevents us from its infection in the future.

 

Dosage:

• Prevenar is meant for adults through the age of 19-64 years.
• People who get vaccinated at the age of 65, might need revaccination after five years of having their first dose.
• Infants younger than the age of 24 months are supposed to get four doses, first shot at the age of 2 months, then 4 months, 6 months and the booster shot between 12-15 months.

 

Side effects:

• Less serious side effects of Pneumococcal conjugate Vaccine (7-valent) include mild skin rash, drowsiness, fussiness, loss of appetite, low fever, chills or joint pain.
• Serious side effects are dyspnea, dermatitis, angioneurotic oedema, apnea, injection site urticaria, pruritus, or erythema multiforme. If any of these is experienced, consult your doctor right away.
• Other serious effects can be Myalgia, Lymphadenopathy, Paresthesia, seizures, fainting, shock, anaphylactoid, skin discolouration, interference in limb movement, constant crying, convulsions among others.

 

Precautions and measures:

• This vaccine must not be given to children below 6 weeks.
• Pneumococcal conjugate Vaccine (7-valent) should be given intramuscularly only.
• If a person is suffering from febrile illness, this vaccination should be prevented until the illness is cured.
• Shake well before use as it is a suspension containing an aluminium adjuvant.
• Needles after use should not be recapped.
• Special care should be taken to not to intervene in injection into the blood vessel.
• Prevenar should not be used as a substitute for the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.
• Store it at room temperature.
• Caps of prefilled syringes contain rubber latex, which can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

 

Interactions:

• Hypersensitivity to any ingredient of Pneumococcal conjugate Vaccine (7-valent) including diphtheria toxoid will produce a negative effect on the body.

People on an alkylating agent, antimetabolites or cytotoxic agent medication are less likely to respond to active immunisation.