Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine

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Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV), also known as Pneumovax, is a vaccine used to prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) infections such as pneumonia and septicaemia.

1 Indications
2 Vaccination schedule
- 2.1 Adults
- 2.2 Children
3 Notes and references

[edit] Indications

In the United Kingdom, PPV is recommended (as a part of routine vaccination schedules) for those over the age of 65, and also for both children and adults in special risk categories:

Serious breathing problems
Serious heart conditions
Severe kidney problems
Long term liver disease
Diabetes requiring medication
Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment (e.g. chemotherapy or radio therapy, long-term steroid use, and problems with the spleen (asplenia), either because the spleen has been removed (splenectomy) or does not work properly (for example, due to sickle cell disease).

[edit] Vaccination schedule

[edit] Adults

The 23-valent vaccine (e.g., Pneumovax II) is only appropriate for adults and usually should only be administered once, as subsequent re-injection risks severe local reactions. The exception is where immunity may be lost at a faster rate than normal (e.g. patents with asplenia or nephrotic syndrome) when repeated re-vaccination every 5-10 years is recommended.

[edit] Children

Children under the age of two years fail to mount an adequate response to the 23-valent adult vaccine, and instead a 7-valent Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccine (PCV) (e.g., Prevenar) must be used. Whilst this covers only seven strains out of more than more than ninety strains, these seven strains cause 80% to 90% of cases of severe pneumococcal disease, and it is considered to be nearly 100% effective against these strains.^[1]

Special risk-group: Children at special risk (e.g. sickle cell disease and asplenia) require as full protection as can be achieved using the 7-valent congugated vaccine, with then the more extensive 23-valent vaccine given in the second year of life:

**Vaccination schedule for children at special risk**
Age	2-6 months	7-11 months	12-23 months
Conjugated vaccine	3 x monthly dose	2 x monthly dose	2 doses, 2 months apart
	Further dose in second year of life
23-valent vaccine	Then after 2nd birthday single dose of 23-valent

Routine childhood vaccination programme: As of 4th September 2006, PCV is also included in the routine childhood vaccination programme for all children in the UK. In those children not at particular risk, PCV is given at 2, 4 and 13 months of age.^[2]

[edit] Notes and references

^ Childhood Pneumococcal Disease - information on the disease and the Prevenar vaccine, from the Victoria State (Australia) government. Includes possible side effects.
^ Full immunisation schedule. NHS (September 4, 2006).

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