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.

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

​Pneumovax is FREE for:
  • Everyone 65 and over
  • Indigenous people 50 and over
  • Indigenous people 10 and over with specific illnesses and 
  • Children with specific illnesses at 4-5 years
​Where the vaccine does not fall into a ‘free’ category a prescription is required.
Pneumococcal Immunisation in Children (Prevenar)
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.

For children born before 1/1/2002 FREE vaccine is ONLY available to the ‘at risk’ group of children (see below), but parents can purchase the vaccine for other children.

Free Pneumococcal vaccine will be provided FREE for ALL children born after 1/1/2003.
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 and adults. Neither are live vaccines. 

The vaccine is normally given at 2, 4 and 6 months, with no booster.

​Those born after 1/1/2005 will have three injections - at 2, 4 and 6 months.

A CATCHUP program was provided during 2005 for children born between 1/1/2003 and 1/1/2005 - the number of injections depending on the child's age at the time of their first injection (injections must be at least 2 months apart):
  • 1 to 6  months         3 doses
  • 7 to 17 months       2 doses
  • 18 to 24 months     1 dose               
boosters given as per the 'at risk group

ATSI children should have a Pneumovax booster between 18 and 24 months.
​
Medically ‘at risk’ children should have a Prevenar booster at 12 months and a Pneumovax booster at 4 years.

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.

​Pneumovax vaccine SHOULD NOT be given where the person :
  • is allergic to eggs, feathers, or neomycin
  • is allergic to previous Pneumovax vaccine
  • has a fever over 38.5 degrees C

Adverse Reactions:

Pneumovax complications are rare :
  • Up to 10% 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 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.