Does your little one often catch a cold and have a stuffy nose? Or do your elderly parents have a cough and difficulty breathing? These conditions can sometimes be symptoms of a serious illness like pneumonia. But don't worry, there is a very effective way to protect our little ones and adults from such dangerous diseases. That is the pneumococcal vaccine. Today, we will talk about everything about this vaccine.
What is the Pneumococcal Vaccine?
Simply put, this is like a protective shield that is injected into our bodies. This vaccine protects us from infections caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae. This bacteria is what we call 'pneumococcus' for short.
This bacterium can cause severe respiratory illness (difficulty breathing) and other serious complications, especially in young children and the elderly. This is what we use this vaccine to protect against.
There are several types of pneumococcal vaccines currently in use. They are called `conjugate vaccines`. This means that they are designed to better stimulate our body's ability to fight disease (immunity). The main types are:
- PCV13
- PCV15
- PCV20
- PCV21
The numbers in these names indicate the number of strains of pneumococcus bacteria that the vaccine can control.
In addition, there is another older vaccine called `PPSV23`. This is usually given to children over 2 years of age, those with certain chronic diseases, and adults who have already received the PCV15 vaccine.
What are the diseases caused by pneumococcal disease?
When the pneumococcus bacteria enter our bodies, they can cause a variety of dangerous diseases. Some people may have this bacteria in their throats without any symptoms. However, even those people can spread it to others through small droplets released when they breathe, cough, or sneeze.
This vaccine protects us from serious diseases such as:
| Disease | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Bacterial Meningitis | Infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This can lead to serious consequences such as memory loss, coma, death, blindness, or paralysis. |
| Pneumonia | An infection of the lungs. This causes cough, fever, and difficulty breathing. |
| Middle ear infection (Otitis Media) | Symptoms include ear pain, swelling, insomnia, fever, and, in young children, frequent crying. |
| Bacteremia | A dangerous condition in which germs enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. |
| Sinus Infections | Infections associated with the facial cavities (sinuses). |
Imagine, before the introduction of this vaccine, a large number of children under 5 years old died of pneumonia all over the world. But after the introduction of this vaccine in 2000, the prevalence of this disease among children and adults decreased dramatically.
Are these vaccines really safe? Are there any side effects?
Yes, absolutely. Both PCV and PPSV vaccines are very safe . As with any medicine, there is a small chance of an allergic reaction, but the risk of serious harm or death is very low.
These are the commonly seen minor side effects :
- For young children (after PCV vaccination):
- Redness, slight soreness, or swelling at the injection site.
- A low-grade fever (about one in three children).
- A mild fever (about one in 50 children).
- Sometimes there is loss of appetite, frequent crying, or drowsiness.
- For adults (after PPSV vaccination):
- Redness or pain at the injection site (about 1 in 2 people).
- Less than 1% experience things like fever or muscle aches.
The important thing is that most of these side effects are very minor and go away completely within a couple of days.
Who should get this vaccine? When?
Let's now look at who this vaccine is recommended for and what schedule it should be given.
For babies and young children
It is recommended that all babies under 2 years of age receive 4 doses of the vaccine, in this order:
- First dose: At 2 months
- Second dose: At 4 months
- Third dose: At 6 months
- Booster dose: Between 12-15 months
If for some reason the vaccination cannot be given during this time, the doctor will provide an appropriate schedule based on the child's age.
For children aged 2-18 years
Children who did not complete the series of vaccines as children or who have special health conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, can also receive this vaccine. Your doctor will determine the most appropriate type and schedule for this.
For adults
Every healthy adult over the age of 50 can get the vaccine in one of the following ways:
- One dose of the PCV15 vaccine and one year later, one dose of the PPSV23 vaccine.
- One dose of the PCV20 vaccine.
- One dose of the PCV21 vaccine.
For those at special risk
Those aged 18-49 years, but who have a medical condition (e.g. diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS) or treatment (e.g. steroids, chemotherapy) that weakens the immune system, can also receive the vaccine in the same way as adults above.
You might be thinking, 'I'm 50 now, I'm healthy, so do I need this?' Actually, yes. Research has found that adults between the ages of 50 and 64 have the second highest risk of developing this disease.
Therefore, if you are over 50 years old, or have a chronic illness like diabetes, heart disease, or asthma, it is a great safety measure to talk to your doctor and get this vaccine. Because the death rate among adults due to this disease is very high.
Take-Home Message
- The pneumococcal vaccine is a very important shield against dangerous diseases like pneumonia and meningitis.
- This vaccine is especially recommended for young children between the ages of 2 months and 2 years and for all adults over the age of 50.
- It is very important for anyone of any age with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, or cancer to get this vaccine.
- Most side effects from the vaccine are very minor and go away within a day or two.
- If you or your child have any concerns about receiving this vaccine, be sure to talk to your family doctor.
💬 Comments (0)
No comments have been posted yet. Add your comment here for the first time.
Add your comment