Home > FAQs About the importance of broader coverage with Prevnar 13^®

FAQs About the importance of broader coverage with Prevnar 13^®

• How can Prevnar 13^® help my young child?
• What's the difference between Prevnar^® and Prevnar 13^®?
• What if my child has already started the vaccination series with Prevnar^®?
• What if my child has already completed the vaccination series with Prevnar^®?
• Why is a single dose of Prevnar 13^® recommended for children who have received 4 doses of Prevnar^®?
• Can children older than 4 still receive Prevnar 13^®?

How can Prevnar 13^® help my young child?

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) can be a very serious illness in young children. You may be familiar with the vaccine Prevnar^® (Pneumococcal
7-valent Conjugate Vaccine [Diphtheria CRM₁₉₇ Protein]) that has been routinely given to infants and young children since 2000 to help protect against certain strains of pneumococcal bacteria. What you might not know is that additional strains of pneumococcal bacteria not included in the Prevnar^® vaccine are being seen more commonly today. Prevnar 13^® may provide protection against six of these strains that can cause IPD.

What's the difference between Prevnar^® and Prevnar 13^®?

Prevnar 13^® may protect young children against the same bacterial strains as Prevnar^® as well as 6 additional bacterial strains. In fact, Prevnar 13^® may help protect your child from IPD caused by some of the most common strains of pneumococcal bacteria seen today.

What if my child has already started the vaccination series with Prevnar^®?

Children who have already started receiving Prevnar^® can be switched to Prevnar 13^® at any point in the schedule.

The immune response from this schedule might be lower for the 6 additional strains (types 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F, and 19A) than if your child had received the full 4 doses of Prevnar 13^®.

Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of Prevnar 13^®.

What if my child has already completed the vaccination series with Prevnar^®?

For children 15 months to 5 years of age who have completed the 4-dose vaccination series with Prevnar^®, one dose of Prevnar 13^® helps protect against 6 additional strains of pneumococcal bacteria that cause serious disease.

The immune response from this schedule might be lower for the 6 additional strains (types 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F, and 19A) than if your child had received the full 4 doses of Prevnar 13^®.

Why is a single dose of Prevnar 13^® recommended for children who have received 4 doses of Prevnar^®?

If your child 15 months to 5 years of age has completed the 4-dose vaccination schedule for Prevnar^®, one dose of Prevnar 13^® helps protect them against 6 additional strains of pneumococcal bacteria not covered by Prevnar^®.

The immune response from this schedule might be lower for the 6 additional strains (types 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F, and 19A) than if your child had received the full 4 doses of Prevnar 13^®.

Can children older than 4 still receive Prevnar 13^®?
Prevnar 13^® is recommended for children 2 months to 5 years of age. Ask your child’s doctor if Prevnar 13^® is right for your child.

INDICATIONS FOR PREVNAR 13^®

• Prevnar 13^® is a vaccine approved for use in children 6 weeks through 5 years for prevention of invasive disease (caused by the 13 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae included in the vaccine) and ear infections (caused by 7 of the 13 strains)
• Based upon immune responses to the vaccine, Prevnar 13^® is also approved for adults 50 years and older for the prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia and invasive disease caused by the 13 vaccine strains
• Prevnar 13^® is not 100% effective and will only help protect against the 13 strains included in the vaccine
• Effectiveness when given less than 5 years after a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is not known

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

• Prevnar 13^® should not be given to anyone with a history of severe allergic reaction to any component of Prevnar 13^® or any diphtheria toxoid–containing vaccine
• Children and adults with weakened immune systems (eg, HIV infection, leukemia) may have a reduced immune response
• A temporary pause of breathing following vaccination has been observed in some infants born prematurely
• The most commonly reported serious adverse events in children were bronchiolitis (an infection of the lungs) (0.9%), gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and small intestine) (0.9%), and pneumonia (0.9%)
• In infants and toddlers, the most common side effects were tenderness, redness or swelling at the injection site, irritability, decreased appetite, decreased or increased sleep, and fever
• In adults, immune responses to Prevnar 13^® were reduced when given with injected seasonal flu vaccine
• In adults, the common side effects were pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, limitation of arm movement, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, decreased appetite, chills, or rash
• Ask your health care provider about the risks and benefits of Prevnar 13^®. Only a health care provider can decide if Prevnar 13^® is right for your child

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Visit www.vaers.hhs.gov or call 1-800-822-7967.

Please see Prescribing Information for Prevnar 13^®