Home > What is Prevnar 13^®?

What is Prevnar 13^®?

Prevnar^® (Pneumococcal 7-valent Conjugate Vaccine [Diphtheria CRM₁₉₇ Protein]) is a pediatric vaccine that has been routinely given to infants and young children since 2000 to help protect against 7 strains of pneumococcal bacteria.

Prevnar 13^®, indicated for children 6 weeks through 5 years of age, helps protect against 6 additional strains of pneumococcal bacteria. Prevnar 13^® can help protect your child against pneumococcal bacteria that may cause invasive disease today.

Which children should be vaccinated with Prevnar 13^®?

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends
  Prevnar 13^® for children 2 months to 5 years of age.
• Children who have begun their pneumococcal immunization with Prevnar^® can receive Prevnar 13^® for all remaining doses.
• Children 15 months to 5 years who have already received 4 doses of Prevnar^® can get the additional coverage of Prevnar 13^® with one
  additional dose.

The immune response from these schedules 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^®. It's not known how medically important this difference is.

Talk to your child's doctor about the risks and benefits of Prevnar 13^®. Only a health care provider can decide if Prevnar 13^® is right for your child.

Learn more: Coverage Against 6 More Strains of Pneumococcal Bacteria^*

INDICATION FOR PREVNAR 13^®

• Prevnar 13^® is a vaccine approved for use in children 6 weeks through 5 years of age (prior to the 6th birthday).
• Prevnar 13^® is indicated for active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease caused by 13 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F).
• Prevnar 13^® is also indicated for the prevention of otitis media (ear infection) caused by 7 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F). No efficacy data for ear infections are available for strains 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F, and 19A.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR PREVNAR 13^®

• Prevnar 13^® should not be given to anyone with a severe allergic reaction to any component of Prevnar 13^®, Prevnar^® or any diphtheria toxoid–containing vaccine.
• Prevnar 13^® may not protect all individuals receiving the vaccine.
• Protection against ear infections is expected to be less than that for invasive disease.
• Children with weakened immune systems may have a reduced immune response to Prevnar 13^®.
• A temporary pause of breathing following vaccination has been observed in some infants born prematurely.
• The most commonly reported serious adverse events include bronchiolitis (an infection of the lungs) (0.9%, 1.1%), gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and small intestine) (0.9%, 0.9%), and pneumonia (0.9%, 0.5%) for Prevnar 13^® and Prevnar^®, respectively.
• The most common side effects are redness, swelling and tenderness at the injection site, fever, decreased appetite, irritability, increased sleep, and decreased sleep. Any side effects associated with the vaccination should be reported to your child's health care provider.
• Ask your child's health care provider about the risks, benefits and if Prevnar 13^® is right for your child.

Please see Prescribing Information for Prevnar 13^®