-
Shield Your Child AgainstPneumococcal Disease[1]Pneumococcal disease refers to a range of illnesses caused by the pneumococcus bacteria that can cause severe infections of the ears, lungs, blood, and brain.
-
Has your child been vaccinated against pneumococcal pnuemonia?
If not, you can now catch up on your child's pending pneumococcal shot anytime through 17 years, prior to the 18th birthday!
Is it serious: What does the risk look like?[1,2]
Symptoms of pneumococcal disease depend on the part of the body that is infected.
It can cause various diseases including:
Pneumococcal pneumonia
-
- Fever or chills
- Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
-
- Cough
- Chest pain
Middle ear infections (Otitis media)
-
- Ear pain
- A red, swollen ear drum
-
- Fever
Meningitis
(Inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord)
-
- Stiff neck
- High fever
- In babies: Poor eating and drinking, low alertness, or vomiting
-
- Headache
- Confusion
Blood infection (Sepsis)
-
- Fever
- Chills
-
- Low alertness
A professional medical expert can help guide you on availing pneumococcal vaccination which helps to minimize the risk of pneumococcal pneumonia infection.
Some children can be at higher risk[3]
Certain children with medical factors (mentioned below) are more prone to
getting the pneumococcal infection:
-
- Being born prematurely
- Having sickle cell disease
- Weak immune system (Caused by cancer treatment or disease such as HIV/AIDS)
-
- Recent surgery or trauma
- Heart or lung disease present at birth
High risk or low risk: Give the life-saving shot
Studies[4] show that getting at least 1 shot of pneumococcal vaccine*
Protects at least 8 in 10 babies from serious infections called invasive pneumococcal disease.
Vaccination is the best protection
against pneumococcal disease
A pneumococcal vaccine encourages your child's body to produce antibodies and protects against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria that can cause serious infections.[5]
Notably, The disease has become resistant to some antibiotics/antimicrobials used to treat it, making the vaccination even more important.
Sources
- National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Available online at https://www.nfid.org/infectious-diseases/pneumococcal/
- Vaccine (Shot) for Pneumococcal Disease. CDC.
- Available online at https://labeling.pfizer.com/showlabeling.aspx?id=501#section-8.3.;Pneumonia in children - community acquired. NIH.
- Available online at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/public/index.html
- Pneumococcal Vaccination: What Everyone Should Know. CDC.
Disclaimer:
*Please note that pneumococcal vaccine on this page refers to PCV13, which offers protection against 13 strains of pneumococcus, the most common pneumonia-causing bacteria. However, other bacteria, viruses and fungi can also cause pneumonia in children.