Prevenar 13 Injection

About Prevenar 13 Injection

Prevenar 13 Injection Uses

• Protects infants, children and adults against invasive pneumococcal disease
• Helps prevent pneumococcal pneumonia
• Reduces the risk of pneumococcal meningitis and bloodstream infection
• Lowers the chance of pneumococcal related ear infection in young children

Prevenar 13 Injection Benefits

• Covers 13 common disease causing strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae
• Builds long lasting immune protection through a simple injection schedule
• Recommended for infants from 6 weeks of age as part of routine immunization
• Also protects older adults and people with weaker immunity against serious pneumococcal illness

Drug Class

• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
• Immunizing biological, not a treatment for active infection

What Experts Say

Prevenar 13 works by training the immune system to recognize the outer sugar coating of 13 common Streptococcus pneumoniae strains. Conjugating these sugars to a carrier protein helps even a young infant's immune system build a strong, lasting antibody response, which plain polysaccharide vaccines cannot achieve as reliably.

Population data from countries using this vaccine in routine immunization show real drops in invasive pneumococcal disease, pneumonia hospitalizations and ear infections in vaccinated children. This protection also lowers spread to unvaccinated family members, which is one reason pediatricians consider it a core part of the primary immunization schedule.

The vaccine does not treat an existing infection and is not a substitute for antibiotics once pneumococcal disease has already developed. It also will not protect against every cause of pneumonia or meningitis, since other bacteria and viruses can cause similar illness outside its 13 covered strains.

Prevenar 13 Injection formula

• Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (13-valent)

Available forms

• Injection, prefilled syringe 0.5ml

How to use Prevenar 13 Injection?

• Given as an intramuscular injection by a trained healthcare provider
• Infants usually receive doses at 2, 4, 6 and 12 to 15 months of age
• Unvaccinated older infants and children follow a catch up schedule set by the doctor
• Adults and older children who need protection usually receive a single dose

Drug Interactions

• Other Childhood Vaccines: Usually given at the same visit at a different injection site as advised by the doctor
• Immunosuppressive Treatment: Chemotherapy or long term steroid use can lower the vaccine's effectiveness
• Other Pneumococcal Vaccines: Timing with vaccines such as PPSV23 needs spacing as advised by the treating doctor

Risks and warnings

• Severe Allergy: Avoid if there is a known severe allergic reaction to any vaccine component or a previous pneumococcal or diphtheria toxoid vaccine
• Current Illness: Moderate to severe illness with fever usually means delaying the dose until recovery
• Weakened Immunity: A weaker immune system may lower the response and still call for other precautions
• Premature Infants: May need monitoring for breathing pauses after the injection

Prevenar 13 Injection Side Effects

• Redness, swelling or pain at the injection site
• Mild fever
• Irritability or fussiness in infants
• Reduced appetite
• Drowsiness or fatigue
• Muscle pain or headache in older children and adults
• Rarely, high fever, unusual crying or seizure like episodes need urgent medical review

Storage Conditions

• Store in the refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C
• Do not freeze, since freezing destroys the vaccine
• Keep the prefilled syringe in its original carton away from light
• Shake well before use and check for a uniform white suspension