Prevenar for children: instructions for use, frequent reactions to the vaccine. Advantages and disadvantages

Pneumococci cause not only pneumonia, but also other infections, such as otitis media or meningitis. Such bacteria are especially dangerous for children of the first years of life, so from 2014, they began to include vaccinations against pneumococcal infections in the vaccination schedule. It can be carried out with several preparations, one of which is Prevenar. According to what scheme is this drug administered, what does it look like and what possible health problems can a young child have?

Prevenar is produced by the American company Pfizer and is a polysaccharide adsorbed pneumococcal vaccine containing 7 polysaccharides. These are conjugates to seven serotypes of pneumococci, which provoke about 80% of pneumococcal infections. These polysaccharides are bound to the CRM197 carrier protein and are supplemented with sodium chloride, aluminum phosphate and sterile water.

The drug is a white suspension, placed in a volume of 0.5 ml in a disposable glass syringe, to which is attached an injection needle (the syringe is sealed in plastic).

The contents of the syringe are usually homogeneous, but the appearance of a white precipitate is also considered normal. One syringe is usually sold in one box, but there are also packages containing 5 syringes each.

Introduction Prevenar stimulates the production of immunity against Streptococcus pneumoniae - types of streptococcus that provoke pneumonia, acute otitis media, meningitis and other diseases. Especially often such infections develop in children younger than 5 years old, therefore, it is recommended to begin vaccination against pneumococcus even in infancy.

Although anti-bacterial agents, unlike viruses, act on streptococci, many of these types of bacteria become resistant to antimicrobial drugs over time, so vaccination is considered more effective.

Vaccination is given to babies over the age of 2 months and is especially important for:

• often sick babies;
• children with chronic pathologies;
• premature babies.

Pros of Prevenar:

• The vaccine protects against the most common strains of pneumococci. If a child has otitis, pneumonia or another infection caused by such streptococci, it will easily go away.
• The drug rarely provokes adverse reactions.
• There are few contraindications for vaccination with Prevenar. The drug is safe for babies from 2 months of age.

However, the drug has certain disadvantages:

• Although very rare, an allergic reaction may occur to the components of Prevenar.
• Not all Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes are present in the suspension, which provoke pneumococcal infection in childhood.
• If the baby has a weakened immune system, it tolerates vaccination with Prevenar badly.

Introduction Prevenar prohibited:

• with intolerance to its components;
• in case of acute illness or exacerbation of any chronic illness;
• at elevated body temperature.

If the crumbled blood, the injection is done 3-4 months after such a procedure.

Prevenar rarely provokes a side reaction, but it can be in the form of:

• soreness, compaction or redness in the place where the suspension was injected;
• increase in body temperature to subfebrile index;
• tearfulness, drowsiness, loss of appetite, lethargy, irritability.

In some cases, the introduction of Prevenar may cause complications, such as an immediate allergic reaction. Also such negative phenomena are occasionally possible:

• rise in body temperature above +39;
• severe redness and significant swelling at the injection site;
• swollen lymph nodes;
• attack of vomiting or diarrhea.
• the appearance of an abscess at the injection site;
• exacerbation of chronic pathology.

If the child is prone to allergies, the doctor will prescribe one of the antihistamine drugs. Such training in most cases helps to prevent complications.

In addition, after making an injection, you should not immediately go home. It is advisable to stay in a medical facility for at least half an hour to eliminate the occurrence of an immediate type of allergy. It is also worth a few days after the introduction of Prevenar to limit the contact of the child with other people.

If the side effects are still manifested, the actions of the parents should depend on the characteristics of the reaction. For example, if a child has a fever, you should give a crush antipyretic medicine (for example, Nurofen).

With a slight redness or soreness of the vaccine injection site, no special actions are needed. You can bathe the child, but you should not treat the injection site with an antiseptic (like applying a plaster or a compress).

The doctor will examine and determine whether complications have occurred, and also prescribe the necessary treatment to correct the effects of the injection.

Prevenar is administered only intramuscularly - in the thigh muscle (if the child is under two years old) or in the shoulder muscle (if the child is older than 2 years). Intravenous administration is strictly prohibited.

Before the introduction of the suspension is shaken, so that its components are distributed in the liquid evenly.

The vaccination scheme depends on the age of the baby:

1. If an infant is vaccinated for 2-6 months, then a triple vaccination with an interval of at least 1 month is recommended, for example, at 2, 3 and 4 months. The fourth time Prevenar is administered in 12-15 months (revaccination is performed).
2. If in the first half of the year, vaccination is missed, then a child of 7-11 months is given the vaccine only twice, for example, at 7 and 8 months. Revaccination is carried out in 12-15 months.
3. If Prevenar was inoculated in the second year of life (at the age of 12-23 months), then the child is vaccinated twice with an interval of at least 2 months, for example, at 12 and 14 months. Revaccination is not indicated for such children.
4. If the child has not received the vaccine before the age of 2, it can be inoculated with Prevenar at the age of 2-5 years, the drug should be injected once. Revaccination in this case is also not carried out.

Excess dose Prevenar is not possible, since 1 bottle (syringe with suspension) contains only one dose of vaccine.If you introduce the next vaccine earlier than recommended after the previous vaccination, the child may experience the same side effects and complications as with using the vaccine in the right doses.

Vaccination Prevenar can be combined with the introduction of other vaccinations with the condition that the injections will be performed in different parts of the body. The drug is not administered only with BCG.

Sealed vaccine has a shelf life of 3 years. While it has not expired, the drug should be kept in the refrigerator (at a temperature of + 2 + 8 degrees). Buying a suspension is possible by prescription.

Since the vaccine against pneumococci was included in the vaccination schedule relatively recently, the attitude towards Prevenar is different. Some parents doubt its necessity and emphasize that the vaccination calendar for a child under 3 years old and so many injections.

However, with frequent diseases and an increased risk of pneumococcal infection in most cases, vaccination is not refused. In addition, many mothers praise Prevenar and note a good tolerability of the injection.

Doctors believe vaccination Prevenar justified, since the diseases from which this vaccine protects children are quite serious and represent a great danger at an early age.

In addition to Prevenar, other vaccines are used against pneumococcus:

• Prevenar 13. The main difference of this suspension is a higher content of pneumococcal conjugates. The drug includes all of the polysaccharides present in Prevenar and additional conjugates to other types of pneumococci - a total of 13 serotypes. This vaccine is used to immunize not only children from 2 months to 5 years, but also patients older than 5 years, including adults.
• Pneumatic 23. This French vaccine contains polysaccharides from 23 serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The drug is used in children older than 2 years who are at risk.
• Pneumovax 23. This medication is similar to Pneumo 23, because it also contains polysaccharides obtained from 23 serotypes of pneumococci, and is also used from 2 years of age.
• Synlorix. This Belgian vaccine not only protects against 10 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, but also forms immunity to the hemophilic rod. She, like Prevenar, can be used in children under 2 years.

Dr. Komarovsky will tell you about the need for pneumococcal vaccination in the next video.