Prevenar 13

The dosage of Pneumococcal 13 valent Conjugate Vaccine depends on the age of the patient and whether the person is previously vaccinated or not. For infants, Prevenar 13 Vaccine is to be given as a four-dose schedule at 2, 4, 6, and 12–15 months of age. The first dose can be given as early as 6 weeks of age and after that, a gap of about 4 to 8 weeks is recommended between two doses. For adults, only one dose seems to be effective. However, consult your doctor for the exact dose and duration.

No, this vaccine should not be given subcutaneously (beneath the skin). It should be given as an intramuscular injection. It should be injected in the front of the thigh in infants or in the muscle of the upper arm in children and adults by a trained healthcare professional.

Usually, Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for children below 2 years of age and adults who are 65 years or older. Individuals who are between 2 to 64 years old, with some medical conditions that weaken your immune system, are also advised to take this vaccine. These conditions include HIV/AIDS, nephrotic syndrome, cancer, sickle cell disease, and diabetes. This vaccine is also recommended in chronic diseases like chronic heart, lung, kidney or liver disease, and alcoholism.

Patients having a life-threatening allergic reaction with previous pneumococcal vaccination, earlier pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, or a vaccine containing diphtheria toxoid (for example, DTaP) should avoid taking this vaccine. Also, this medicine should not be given to patients who are allergic to any additional component of the pneumococcal vaccine. In conditions when a person is ill or unwell then vaccination should only be given after recovery from illness. Do consult your doctor before planning to take this vaccine and follow the instructions as directed.