PNEUMOCOCCAL IMMUNISATION in
CHILDREN ( Prevenar )
As well as pneumonia, children, particularly those at high risk, may also develop meningitis or septicaemia (blood poisoning) from pneumococcal infection. High risk children are listed below.
Pneumococcal vaccines are effective in reducing these serious forms of pneumococcal disease, but less effective in preventing the more common middle ear infections.
Prevenar, the vaccine used in small children, is slightly different to Pneumovax which is used in older children and adults. Neither are live vaccines.
FREE vaccine is ONLY available to the ‘at risk’ group of children, but parents can purchase the vaccine for other children.
At risk groups:
-ATSI children under 2 years
-children living in Central Australia under 2 years
-ATSI children living in Central Australia, or with similar risk, under 5 years
-children with the following medical risk factors under 5 years
-congenital immune deficiency
-on
immunosuppressive therapy, including high dose steroids
-reduced spleen function incl.
absent spleen or sickle cell anaemia
-HIV or AIDS
-renal failure or persisting nephrotic syndrome
-Down’s Syndrome
-heart disease with heart failure or cyanosis
-all premature infants with lung disease and all born at less than 28 weeks
-cystic fibrosis
-type 1 diabetes
-CSF leak, intracranial shunt or cochlear implant
The vaccine is normally given at 2, 4 and 6 months, with no booster.
ATSI children should have a Pneumovax booster between 18 and 24 months.
Medical ‘at risk’ children should have a Prevenar booster at 12 months and a Pneumovax at 4 years.
There is a higher rate of inflammation at the site of injection with Prevenar than with triple antigen and the injection should be given in a different limb to the other vaccines administered at that visit.
The only contra-indication to vaccination with Prevenar is a previous allergic reaction to the vaccine.
Children prone to high fevers or febrile convulsions should have a dose of paracetamol prior to vaccination.