PNEUMOCOCCAL POLYSACCHARIDE VACCINE

What you need to know:

1. Why get vaccinated?
Pneumococcal disease is a serious disease that causes much sickness and death worldwide.

Anyone can get pneumococcal disease. However, some people are at greater risk from the disease. These include people 60 and older, the very young, and people with special health problems such as alcoholism, heart or lung disease, kidney failure, diabetes, HIV infection, or certain types of cancer.

Pneumococcal disease can lead to serious infections of the lungs (pneumonia), the blood (bacteremia), and the covering of the brain (meningitis).

About 1 out of every 20 people who get pneumococcal pneumonia dies from it, as do about 2 people out of 10 who get
bacteremia and 3 people out of 10 who get meningitis.

People with the special health problems mentioned above are even more likely to die from the disease.

Prevention of the disease through vaccination is thus more important.

2. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV)
The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria.

3. Who should get PPV?
• All adults 60 years of age or older.

• Those who have long-term health problems, such as:
- heart disease
- lung disease
- sickle cell disease
- diabetes
- alcoholism
- cirrhosis
- leaks of cerebrospinal fluid

• Those who have a disease or condition that lowers the body's resistance to infection, such as:
- lymphoma, leukemia
- Hodgkin's disease
- kidney failure
- nephrotic syndrome
- damaged spleen, or no spleen
- organ transplant
- multiple myeloma
- HIV infection or AIDS

• Those who are taking any drug or treatment that lowers the body's resistance to infection, such as:
- long-term steroids
- radiation therapy
- certain cancer drugs

• Those living in special environments which put them at risk, such as:
Military recruits
Nursing home residents

4. How many doses of PPV are needed?
Usually one dose of PPV is all that is needed.

However, under some circumstances a second dose may be given.
• A second dose is recommended for those people aged 60 and older who got their first dose when they were under 60, if 5 or more years have passed since that dose.

• A second dose is also recommended for people who:
- have a damaged spleen or no spleen
- have sickle-cell disease
- have HIV infection or AIDS
- have cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma
- have kidney failure
- have nephrotic syndrome
- have had an organ or bone marrow transplant
- are taking medication that lowers immunity(such as chemotherapy or long-term steroids)

5. Other facts about getting the vaccine
Pregnancy: The safety of PPV for pregnant women has not yet been studied. There is no evidence that the vaccine is harmful to either the mother or the fetus, but pregnant women should consult with their doctor before being vaccinated. Women who are at high risk
of pneumococcal disease should be vaccinated before becoming pregnant, if possible.

6. What are the risks from PPV?
PPV is a very safe vaccine.

About half of those who get the vaccine have very mild side effects, such as redness or pain where the shot is given.

Less than 1% develop a fever, muscle aches, or more severe local reactions.
Severe allergic reactions have been reported very rarely.
As with any medicine, there is a very small risk that serious
problems, even death, could occur after getting a vaccine.

Getting the disease is much more likely to cause serious problems than getting the vaccine.

7. What if there is a serious reaction?
What should I look for?

• Severe allergic reaction (hives, difficulty breathing, shock)

What should I do?

• Call a doctor, or get to a doctor right away.

• Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given.

8. How can I learn more?
• Ask your doctor or nurse. They can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.

References: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov (accessed February 2008) and Committee on Immunization, Philippine Society for Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (PSMID) & the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV). Handbook on Adult Immunization for Filipinos 2004.

© 2008 L.Y.F. Vaccination & Medical Services, Inc.
L.Y.F. Branches: *6750 Medical Clinic 2nd Floor, Fenina Bldg., 6750 Aguilar Ave (CAA Rd), Las Pinas City,
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Phone: (632) 381.2939 or (632) 401.3280