Pneumococcal 7-Valent Conjugate Vaccine, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vaccine

Generic and brand names: pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine, injection; Prevnar; PCV7

What is this medicine used for?

This vaccine is given by injection (shots) to babies and young children to prevent infections caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae. It does not treat an infection that has already started.

What should the healthcare provider know before your child receives this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell the healthcare provider if your child has:

• an allergy to latex rubber or to any medicine or vaccine
• an infection with a fever
• a bleeding disorder
• a weakened immune system from diseases such as HIV/AIDS or from cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or steroid medicine

Tell your healthcare provider if your child currently has an infection of any kind. Vaccinations should be postponed if a child has a moderate to severe infection with fever. If your child has a mild cold or mild infection, your child may still be able to get the shot. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

Females of childbearing age: This vaccine is intended for use in babies and children only.

How do I use it?

These shots are given into a muscle of the thigh in babies and the upper arm in toddlers. These shots may be given at the same time as other routine childhood shots, such as DPT, haemophilus, and polio shots.

Babies should receive 3 doses (shots) 2 months apart and a fourth dose when they are 12 to 15 months old. The usual age for the first shot is 2 months.

Older babies and children who have not yet had the shots will need shots according to the following schedule:

• children 7 to 11 months old: a total of 3 shots, including 2 shots at least 4 weeks apart and then one more shot after 1 year of age and separated from the second shot by at least 2 months
• children 12 to 23 months old: 2 shots at least 2 months apart
• children 24 months through 9 years old: 1 shot

Your healthcare provider will tell you how many shots your child will need and when your child should get them. Keep all appointments for your child's shots to be sure that your child is fully protected. If a shot is missed, get the missed shot as soon as possible.

What should I watch out for?

This vaccine will only protect against diseases caused by certain types of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. It will not protect against infections by other bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if your child has any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; paleness; very fast heartbeat; swelling of your child's lips, tongue, and throat); seizures.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Fever over 102.2°F (39°C).

Other: Irritability; drowsiness; restless sleep; decreased appetite; vomiting; diarrhea; fever over 100.2°F (37.9°C) but less than 102.2°F (39°C); redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if your child is taking:

• medicine that reduces the chance of blood clots forming such as warfarin (Coumadin) or heparin
• chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or medicines to treat cancer
• immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), tacrolimus (Prograf), mycophenolate (CellCept), muromonab0CD-3 (Orthoclone), and sirolimus (Rapamune)
• steroids such as cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone, hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred), and prednisone

Keep a record of all vaccines received and when you received them.

Keep a list of all your child's medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat your child about all the products your child is taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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