Before they are born, infants are protected against some diseases thanks to antibodies that pass through the placenta from mother to child. After birth, babies continue to receive those benefits through a mother’s breast milk. Unfortunately, these protections are temporary and only last while the baby is breastfed.

To protect infants from additional disease, parents can get their children vaccinated. A vaccine is a weakened or dead virus that triggers the immune system to create antibodies against that particular microorganism. The immune system remembers the organism and reacts quickly if the same organism enters the body later. One such vaccine protects babies from Pneumococcal infection.

About Pneumococcal Vaccine

There are more than 90 subtypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacterium responsible for Pneumococcal diseases. The major conditions of pneumococcal disease are – pneumonia (lung disease), bacteremia (blood infection), otitis media (ear infection), and meningitis (infection of the covering brain or the spinal cord). These conditions are more common among children, particularly those younger than 2. Because a child’s immune system has not strengthened like an adult’s, these diseases can be fatal.

The best protection we can provide children against pneumococcal infection is pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13). PCV13 offers protection against the 13 most dangerous subtypes of pneumococcal bacteria. It is also effective in preventing pneumonia and ear infection. It is recommended for infants and children as young as 6 weeks. The vaccine gives protection against the bacteria for 3 years, covering children when they are at their greatest risk of infection. A different kind of vaccine is available for older children and adults – pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

Why Should a Child Get Vaccinated?

Pneumococcal disease is very common among children due to their weak immune system and can cause major health problems in children younger than 5. It is spread from person to person through close contact. Every year more than 700 children are affected with meningitis, about 13,000 kids suffer from blood infection, and upwards of 5 million children are affected with ear infection.

Serious complications of pneumococcal infection include permanent brain damage, permanent hearing loss, or even death. Around 1,000,000 children die every year due to pneumococcal diseases throughout the world. Treating a pneumococcal infection is very difficult as bacteria can develop a resistance to some of the medicines used. The main preventative method against complications and fatalities of pneumococcal diseases is for infants to be vaccinated.

Some vaccines can cause side effects, such as a low-grade fever and swelling or soreness at the injection site. However, in general, vaccines are very safe. Vaccines are unlikely to cause serious infections because they contain weakened, inactive, or partial bacteria, viruses, or germs. In the U.S., it takes years for vaccines to become available due to the extensive testing they need to undergo. Also, while they are in use, vaccines are continually monitored for their safety and efficacy by a system known as VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) and external reviewers as well.

One study in particular, published in 1998 in the British medical journal The Lancet, created a scare when it implied a link between the vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and autism. (Autism is a disease characterized by social impairments and communication difficulties.) However, researchers later discovered that the author of the study committed fraud by altering the data and determined the link between the MMR vaccine and autism was unfounded. Also, several other studies have found no association between autism and MMR or any other vaccine.

For children younger than 2, a series of 4 injections are given during the ages of 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Even if a child misses the first dose, they should still receive the vaccine on a modified schedule.

PCV vaccine is recommended for children between 2 years and 5 years of age if they:

 

• Suffer from sickle cell anemia

 

• Suffer from HIV or AIDS

 

• Have chronic heart or lung disease

 

• Have a damaged spleen or no spleen at all

 

• Are affected by other diseases involving the immune system, like diabetes and cancer

 

• Are taking medication like chemotherapy or steroids that affects the immune system

 

The vaccination should be considered in all other children between the ages of 2 years to 5 years, especially children who attend a group child care center. The exact number of shots and dosage depend on the child’s age and when he or she received the first shot of PCV.

When to Avoid Vaccination

Parents should avoid vaccinating their child against pneumococcal infection if the child suffered a life-threatening reaction after the last vaccination. Children who are moderately ill should wait until they recover before getting vaccinated. Vaccinations can still be given to children with a minor illness like a cold.

Pneumococcal vaccine is generally the safest vaccine, but in rare cases, it may produce minor side effects like:

 

• Tenderness and swelling around the region of shot

 

• Mild fever

 

• Poor appetite

 

• Fatigue

 

• Fussiness

 

• Vomiting

 

• Severe allergic reactions (rare)

 

The risk of death by PCV is very rare.

Signs of Complications

Adverse reaction after vaccination usually begins within minutes or hours. After vaccination parents should look for fever, unusual change in behavior, and allergic reactions. Few serious allergic reactions include breathing problems, increased heartbeat, wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, dizziness, and swelling of the throat.

What to Do

If parents notice any mild or severe reaction after vaccination they should immediately report it to the doctor. Parents should note the time of vaccination, when the reaction was first noticed, and the type of reaction. Parents can also report the adverse reaction by filing a VAERS form.

Parents should be educated about vaccination by discussing their concerns with their doctor or nurse. Concerned parents can also contact their local or state health department immunization program or Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Conclusion

Immunization is the best way to prevent or avoid diseases. The Pneumococcal vaccine is shown to be one of the safest and most effective vaccines. Parents should talk with children about the process, explaining that it helps to keep them strong and healthy. They can ask the child to be brave, distract them during immunization, and plan a fun activity following the vaccine. These simple steps could make the whole process of immunization more pleasant.