Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine

Healthcare providers recommend that babies get the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, which is approved to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease and ear infections. The vaccination usually comes in a series of four shots, given several months apart starting in infancy. The product was specifically developed to allow the young immune systems of infants and toddlers to respond to the vaccine.

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Information

What Is the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine?

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Prevnar^®) is a childhood vaccine approved to prevent the following infections:

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) -- a group of potentially life-threatening diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, such as bacterial meningitis, bacteremia, and pneumonia
Ear infections caused by certain strains of S. pneumoniae.

(Click What Is the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Used For? for more information on what the medication is used for, including possible off-label uses.)

Potential Side Effects

As with any vaccine, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine may cause side effects. However, not everyone who gets vaccinated will experience side effects. In fact, most children tolerate it well, with only minor side effects (if any).

If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.

Some of the most common side effects include, but are not limited to:

Irritability
Drowsiness
Fever
Decreased appetite.

(Click Side Effects of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)

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