Pneumococcal infection is the most common cause of pneumonia in Australia. The infection can also cause meningitis and blood poisoning.

People with chronic illness and the elderly are at most risk. Vaccination is an important measure available to prevent pneumococcal infection.

Pneumococcal Vaccine is NOT a live virus – you cannot get infection from the injection.

Pneumococcal is FREE for:
  • Everyone 70 and over
  • Indigenous people up to 14ys plus  aged 50yrs and over
  • Indigenous people 10 and over with specific illnesses and 
  • Children as part of the immunisation schedule
​Where the vaccine does not fall into a ‘free’ category a prescription is required.
Pneumococcal Immunisation in Children
As well as pneumonia, children, particularly those at high risk, may also develop meningitis or septicaemia (blood poisoning). 

Pneumococcal vaccines are effective in reducing these serious forms of the disease, but less effective in preventing the more common middle ear infections.

Additional pneumococcal vaccinations are recommended for medically at risk children
At risk groups in Children: 
  • 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
    • all premature infants born at less than 28 week
    • cystic fibrosis
    • type 1 diabetes
    • CSF leak, intracranial shunt or cochlear implant

The Vaccine:

Pneumovax Vaccine is NOT a live virus – you cannot get infection from the injection.

A SINGLE injection of Pneumovax is required with a booster after 5 years only for those at risk of invasive pneumococcal disease. (recommendation as of 2012).

Prevenar, the vaccine used in small children, is slightly different to Pneumovax which is used in older children , Indigenous Australians and those medically at risk. Neither are live vaccines. 

The vaccine is normally given at 6 weeks, 4 and 12 months.

ATSI children should have a Pneumovax booster between 18 and 24 months.
​
Medically ‘at risk’ children should have an an additional Prevenar at 6 months and a Pneumovax booster at 4 years.

From 1/6/20 Prevenar is recommended for all  adults > 70. Minimum interval of 12 months if Pneumovax has been previously given. A catch up program will apply for 71 - 79 year olds until 31/10/21.

Recommended for:

The NHMRC recommends Pneumococcal vaccination for :
  • all people aged 65 years and over  (free vaccine)
  • indigenous people 50 years and over ( free vaccine)*
  • residents in hostels, nursing homes and other residential facilities
  • people with severe asthma, or respiratory illnesses*
  • adults and children over 2 years of age with a chronic illness such as diabetes, heart disease, blood or kidney disorders (refer to At Risk Groups in Children)
  • people with alcohol related illness
  • those who have had their spleen removed*
  • people with immunosuppression or blood disorders such as sickle cell anaemia, myeloma or lymphoma, and those on more than 2 mg prednisolone per day*
  • those who have had organ transplants, CSF leak or shunt or cochlear implant*
  • those with HIV infection (but not established AIDS)*
  • tobacco smokers*
* denotes those requiring a 2nd dose 5 yrs after the 1st.

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Adverse Reactions:

Pneumococcal vaccination  complications are rare :

Up to 20% of people may feel a bit off colour and have local redness and soreness at the injection site. Serious side effects are very rare.

With Prevenar, there is a higher rate of inflammation at the site of injection and it should be given in a different limb to the other vaccines administered at that visit if possible.

The only absolute contra-indication to Pneumococcal vaccines are
  • anaphylaxis after a previous dose of any Pneumococcal vaccine.
  • or anaphylaxis to any vaccine component (eg eggs, feathers, neomycin)​​
Children prone to high fevers or febrile convulsions should have a dose of paracetamol prior to vaccination.