The pneumococcal vaccine is mainly for pediatric use; however, it can also be used among adolescents and adults, if they are not vaccinated and / or have an important immune deficit.
Belonging to the category of purified antigen vaccines, the pneumococcal vaccine is a safe, effective drug and contraindicated only in case of allergy to one of the substances (including excipients) contained therein.
Currently, the pneumococcal vaccine does not figure among the compulsory vaccines of the developmental age; however, it is frequently included among the vaccinations offered free of charge to individuals of a certain age group, in the same way as vaccines such as the "anti meningococcus B, l" anti meningococcus C ol "anti rotavirus.
Streptococcus Pneumoniae: A Brief Review
The Streptococcus pneumoniae, or more simply pneumococcus, is an airborne bacterium, which can cause severe forms of pneumonia and meningitis, septicemia, bronchitis, rhinitis, otitis and various other morbid conditions of some clinical importance.
Considered the main cause of pneumonia cases in the late 19th century, pneumococcus most frequently infects children, the elderly and people who, either due to a chronic debilitating disease or due to some long-lasting drug therapy, have reduced immune defenses.
Pneumococcus is a Gram-positive bacterium, equipped with a polysaccharide capsule (which acts as a virulence vector), which is often found in pairs to form the so-called diplococcus.
Currently, more than 90 strains (serotypes to be exact) of pneumococcus are known.
Did you know that ...
The pneumococcus typically lives in the respiratory tract, in the paranasal sinuses and in the nasal cavities of the human being; however, if the health conditions of the latter are optimal, its presence is not dangerous for the safety of the host.
To make the pneumococcus a danger to the health of the human being that hosts it are the weakened immune defenses (eg: such as those of an elderly person or a chronically ill person) or not yet mature (eg: such as those of a very young child) .
Why take the Pneumococcal Vaccine?
In children, the elderly and the chronically ill, pneumococcal infections can cause forms of pneumonia and meningitis with a high mortality rate; moreover, always in the same subjects, they are associated with sepsis (another deadly condition if not treated in time), osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, endocarditis, pericarditis, peritonitis, brain abscess, otitis media, acute sinusitis, rhinitis and conjunctivitis.
The pneumococcal vaccine available today protects against about 90% of pneumococcal serotypes found most often in the blood of the infected, which guarantees a significant reduction in the risk of infection.
Did you know that ...
According to some estimates, severe pneumococcal infections cause the deaths of one million people worldwide every year.
When is the Anti Pneumococcal Vaccine not essential?
At least up to 65 years of age, already vaccinated people and all unvaccinated adults who are in good health do not need the pneumococcal vaccine.
) contains the fragments of the polysaccharide capsule of 13 different strains of pneumococcus, plus a portion of a protein deriving from diphtheria toxoid, whose purpose is to promote the stimulation of the immune system by the capsular fragments (NB: diphtheria toxoid is the ingredient fundamental of the anti diphtheria vaccine).
13-valent PCV is the pneumococcal vaccine formulation indicated for all healthy subjects, including the elderly; moreover, it is the only formulation effective in children under 2 years of age.
13-valent PCV has been on the market since 2010 and has replaced 7-valent PCV, which creates an "immunization against only 7 different pneumococcal strains.
It should be noted that the 13 pneumococcal strains from which 13-valent PCV protects are those involved in almost 80% of severe infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Did you know that ...
The term "conjugate" used to indicate 13-valent PCV refers to the conjugation of the capsular fragments to the protein derived from diphtheria toxoid.
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV 23 valent)
The 23-valent PPSV contains fragments of the polysaccharide capsule of 23 different pneumococcal strains; unlike the 13-valent PCV, however, it lacks the protein deriving from diphtheria toxoid.
The 23-valent PPSV is the formulation of the pneumococcal vaccine indicated for all subjects over the age of two years at high risk of infection (ie HIV patients, diabetes, renal insufficiency, etc.); moreover, it is also used in the general population elderly woman who is over 65 years old.
The 23-valent PPSV immunizes against almost 90% of the pneumococcal strains involved in severe human infectious processes.
to produce specific antibodies.
In immunology, any foreign substance capable of triggering the immune system is called an antigen.
In the case of vaccines with purified antigens, the antigens are essentially fragments of the infectious agent against which the immunization is to be obtained, deprived, in the laboratory, of the ability to cause the related infection.
Antibodies, on the other hand, are proteins that the immune system of the human organism produces whenever it comes into contact with an antigen and which serve to neutralize the latter in the immediate and also in the future, should a second exposure to the same antigen occur.
Thanks to the pneumococcal vaccine, therefore, antibodies are created against it Streptococcus pneumoniae, exploiting parts of the latter sufficient to stimulate the immune system, but not as sufficient to cause the associated infectious disease.
of the pneumococcal vaccine is by intramuscular injection.In children up to 2 years of age, the site of injection is the latero-superior portion of the thigh; in older children, adolescents and adults, however, it is the shoulder.
A sort of syringe is used for the administration of the pneumococcal vaccine.
Dosage of the Anti Pneumococcal Vaccine
The dosage of the pneumococcal vaccine varies according to factors such as the age at which the recipient undergoes the vaccination and the state of health.
Various situations of interest are reported below.
Dosage in younger children
For younger children (first months of life), the administration of the pneumococcal vaccine is divided into three doses:
- The first dose usually in the 3rd month;
- The second dose 2 months after the first (therefore, normally, in the 5th month);
- The third dose between the 11th and 13th months of life.
Dosage in children aged between 12 and 23 months
For infants starting the dosing cycle between 12 and 23 months of age, the expected doses of pneumococcal vaccine are reduced to two and at least 2 months must elapse between them.
Dosage in Children aged between 2 and 5 years
For children aged 2 to 5 years not yet vaccinated, the pneumococcal vaccine provides a "single dose of administration.
Dosage in Adolescents and Adults up to 64 years
For unvaccinated adolescents and adults up to 64 years of age, the pneumococcal vaccine provides, as in the previous case, a "single dose of administration.
Dosage in Adults from 65 years of age
For adults aged 65 and over, even if already vaccinated, the expected doses of pneumococcal vaccine again become two, of which the first based on 13-valent PCV and the second based on PPSV 23- valent; it should be noted that at least two months must elapse between the first and second dose.
Dosage in individuals at risk of infection
In children over 2 years of age, in adolescents and adults with a deficit of the immune defenses (therefore at high risk of " Streptococcus pneumoniae), the administration of the pneumococcal vaccine may require two doses, rather than just one (the dosage depends on the health condition that exposes the risk of infection).
It should be remembered that in these subjects, the 23-valent PPSV variant of the pneumococcal vaccine is used.
Does the Anti Pneumococcal Vaccine have Boosters?
In a healthy person, the pneumococcal vaccine does not require booster until the age of 65.
In a subject at high risk of infection with Streptococcus pneumoniaeon the other hand, the pneumococcal vaccine could provide for a booster every 5 years (this eventuality depends on the health condition that exposes the risk of infection).
It should be remembered that, in both circumstances, the risk is only recommended, therefore it is not subject to any vaccination obligation.
Can the Pneumococcal Vaccine be administered together with other Vaccines?
The pneumococcal vaccine can be administered together with other vaccines, as it does not interact with the latter.
and soreness at the injection site (at least 50% of recipients);Rare, if not very rare, adverse effects of vaccinations performed on newborns are:
- Allergic reaction to a substance contained in the vaccine (1 case in 1000 doses);
- Collapse (1 case in 1000 doses).
How to recognize an allergic reaction?
In a newborn, allergic reactions to a vaccine occur within minutes of vaccination (which is why parents, after administration of the preparation, are asked to stay another 20-30 minutes at the vaccine center) and include symptoms and signs such as: hives , swelling of the face, difficulty in breathing, rapid heartbeat and / or paleness.
After the pneumococcal vaccine, in the presence of symptoms or signs of an allergic reaction, it is good to contact a doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital.
