Pneumococcal Vaccine 13-valent

Pneumococcal Vaccine 13-valent is a preventive vaccine used against prevention of pneumonia and other diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumonia. 

• Pneumococcal Vaccine 13-valent is available under the following different brand name: Prevnar 13.  

Adult and pediatric dosage

Suspension for IM injection

• 0.5mL/syringe

Streptococcus pneumoniae Immunization

Adult dosage

• Immunocompromised adults aged 19 years or older: ACIP guidelines recommend use for adults with immunocompromising conditions, cerebrospinal fluid leak, or cochlear implant. 
• Immunocompetent adults aged 65 years or older: Need for vaccination based on shared decision making between patient and clinician (i.e., no longer routinely recommended for all adults aged  above 65 yr)

Pediatric dosage

• Children aged 6 weeks through 5 years of age
• Dose 0.5 mL IM
• Routine vaccination: 4-dose series at ages 2, 3, and 6 months and at age 12-15 months
• May administer 1st dose as early as age 6 weeks 
• Dosing interval between 1st and 2nd doses, and 2nd and 3rd doses is 4-8 weeks
• Administer 4th dose at approximately age 12-15 months, and at least 2 months after 3rd dose
• For children aged 14 through 59 months who have received an age appropriate series of 7-valent PCV (PCV7), administer a single supplemental dose of 13-valent PCV (PCV13)
• Catch-up vaccination: Administer 1 dose of PCV13 to all healthy children aged 24 through 59 months who are not completely vaccinated for their age

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See "Dosages."

Common side effects of Pneumococcal Vaccine 13-valent include:

• crying, 
• fussiness, 
• headache, 
• tiredness, 
• muscle or joint pain, 
• drowsiness, 
• sleeping more or less than usual, 
• mild redness, swelling, tenderness, or a hard lump at the injection site, 
• loss of appetite, 
• mild vomiting, 
• diarrhea, 
• low fever (102 degrees or less), 
• chills, and
• mild skin rash

Serious side effects of Pneumococcal Vaccine 13-valent include:

• hives, 
• difficulty breathing, 
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, 
• high fever (103 degrees or higher), 
• seizure, 
• wheezing, 
• severe stomach pain, 
• severe vomiting or diarrhea, 
• easy bruising, 
• unusual bleeding, and
• severe pain, itching, irritation, or skin changes at the injection site

Rare side effects of Pneumococcal Vaccine 13-valent include:

• none 

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems may occur as a result of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

• Pneumococcal Vaccine 13-valent has severe interactions with the following drug:
  • belimumab
• Pneumococcal Vaccine 13-valent has serious interactions with at least 38 other drugs.
• Pneumococcal Vaccine 13-valent has moderate interactions with at least 14 other drugs.
• Pneumococcal Vaccine 13-valent has minor interactions with the following drugs:
  • chloroquine
  • ozanimod

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this drug, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Documented hypersensitivity to any component or diphtheria toxoid.

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Pneumococcal Vaccine 13-valent?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Pneumococcal Vaccine 13-valent?”

Cautions

• Apnea observed following IM vaccination in some premature infants
• IM use only, do not administer IV under any circumstances; take special care to prevent injection into or near a blood vessel or nerve
• Does not replace use of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination in children older than 24 months of age with sickle cell disease, asplenia, HIV infection, chronic illness, or those who are immunocompromised
• Because of IM injection, caution in coagulation disorders
• Syncope reported with use of injectable vaccines and may result in serious secondary injury from falls, including skull fracture, cerebral hemorrhage; may occur 15 min after vaccination
• Decision to administer or delay vaccination because of current or recent febrile illness depends on severity of symptoms and etiology of disease; consider deferring administration in patients with moderate or severe acute illness; vaccination should not be delayed for patients with mild acute illness
• Use caution in patients with bleeding disorders, including patients with thrombocytopenia or receiving anticoagulant therapy; bleeding hematoma may occur from IM administration; if patient receives antihemophilia or other similar therapy, IM injection can be scheduled shortly after such therapy is administered

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks during pregnancy. 
• Lactation: Not applicable.