Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine

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Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV), also known as Pneumovax, is a vaccine used to prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) infections such as pneumonia and septicaemia.

1 Indications
2 Vaccination schedule
- 2.1 Adults
- 2.2 Children
3 Notes and references

[edit] Indications

In the United Kingdom, PPV is recommended (as a part of routine vaccination schedules) for those over the age of 65, and also for both children and adults in special risk categories:

Serious breathing problems
Serious heart conditions
Severe kidney problems
Long term liver disease
Diabetes requiring medication
Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment (e.g. chemotherapy or radio therapy, long-term steroid use, and problems with the spleen (asplenia), either because the spleen has been removed (splenectomy) or does not work properly (for example, due to sickle cell disease).

[edit] Vaccination schedule

[edit] Adults

The 23-valent vaccine (e.g., Pneumovax II) is only appropriate for adults and usually should only be administered once, as subsequent re-injection risks severe local reactions. The exception is where immunity may be lost at a faster rate than normal (e.g. patents with asplenia or nephrotic syndrome) when repeated re-vaccination every 5-10 years is recommended.

[edit] Children

Children under the age of two years fail to mount an adequate response to the 23-valent adult vaccine, and instead a 7-valent Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccine (PCV) (e.g., Prevnar) must be used. Whilst this covers only seven strains out of more than ninety strains, these seven strains cause 80% to 90% of cases of severe pneumococcal disease, and it is considered to be nearly 100% effective against these strains.^[1]

Special risk-group: Children at special risk (e.g. sickle cell disease and asplenia) require as full protection as can be achieved using the 7-valent congugated vaccine, with then the more extensive 23-valent vaccine given in the second year of life:

**Vaccination schedule for children at special risk**
Age	2-6 months	7-11 months	12-23 months
Conjugated vaccine	3 x monthly dose	2 x monthly dose	2 doses, 2 months apart
	Further dose in second year of life
23-valent vaccine	Then after 2nd birthday single dose of 23-valent

Routine childhood vaccination programme: As of 4 September 2006, PCV is also included in the routine childhood vaccination programme for all children in the UK. In those children not at particular risk, PCV is given at 2, 4 and 13 months of age.^[2]

[edit] Notes and references

^ Childhood Pneumococcal Disease - information on the disease and the Prevnar vaccine, from the Victoria State (Australia) government. Includes possible side effects.
^ Full immunisation schedule. NHS (September 4, 2006).