Home > What Is Pneumococcal Disease? > What is the Risk of IPD?

What is the Risk of IPD?

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is a serious risk to children under 5, even though they may have been vaccinated.

IPD, which is caused by pneumococcal bacteria, is contagious and can be spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. Some people can carry pneumococcal bacteria without being sick themselves.

IPD includes a number of very serious illnesses that can affect young children.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that, in children under 5 years old, every year in the US IPD includes:

• 450 cases of pneumococcal meningitis
• 4,000 cases of bacteremia (a blood infection) or other invasive pneumococcal disease
• 100 deaths due to IPD

Pneumococcal meningitis can also lead to other health problems, including:

• Deafness
• Brain damage

Infections caused by pneumococcus can be treated with antibiotics, but you may have heard about antibiotic resistance and how inappropriate or widespread use of antibiotics has caused them to be ineffective at times. This is of particular concern in patients with IPD, because some strains of pneumococcus have shown growing resistance to several different commonly used antibiotics.

Certain strains of pneumococcal bacteria not covered by Prevnar^® (Pneumococcal 7-valent Conjugate Vaccine [Diptheria CRM₁₉₇ Protein]) are becoming more common.
Since 2000, there has been a vaccine called Prevnar^® that helps protect against seven strains of invasive pneumococcal bacteria. But since the introduction of Prevnar^®, there have also been pneumococcal infections in young children caused by additional strains of the pneumococcal bacteria that are not included in the original vaccine. These strains are now being seen more frequently today.

What can you do? Pfizer has developed the vaccine Prevnar 13^®, which may provide protection against several of these additional strains of pneumococcal bacteria. Thanks to the broader coverage^* Prevnar 13^® offers, you and your doctor can help protect your young child against even more strains of pneumococcal bacteria.

What factors can increase your child's risk for IPD? Download a PD Risk Factors Checklist .

Help protect your child by learning more about invasive pneumococcal disease and vaccination with Prevnar 13^®. So let's look at the infections caused by pneumococcal bacteria.

Learn more: What Diseases Can Pneumococcus Cause?

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^®