28.03.2024

Should I vaccinate against pneumonia in children?

At present, vaccination against pneumococcal infection is carried out with two foreign drugs – the American vaccine Prevenar and the French drug Pneumo-23.

The first vaccine can be administered to babies from 2-3 months, and the second – only from 2 years of age.

The introduction of pneumococcal vaccine can be combined with any other vaccinations, with the exception of BCG. In this case, injections are made in different parts of the body.

Depending on the age of the baby, the pneumococcal vaccine is administered according to this scheme:

  1. The babies from two to six months are given the vaccine 3 times (the interval between vaccinations is from 1 to 1.5 months), after which revaccination is performed at 11-15 months.
  2. Children over the age of seven months up to 23 months are vaccinated twice (the interval between vaccinations is the same), and a child is revaccinated by the age of two.
  3. After 2 years, the vaccine is administered once.

In the first year of a child’s life, only Prevenar is vaccinated. Before the year, the vaccine is administered three times – usually babies are vaccinated at the age of three, four and five months.

Before you get the baby a pneumococcal vaccine, you need to examine the child and determine whether it is completely healthy at the moment. It is best to get vaccinated on the day when your pediatrician takes healthy children. This will prevent simultaneous infection of ARVI from sick children in the queue. Antihistamines are indicated only for allergic children.

How to make an injection?

Pneumococcal vaccine is administered intramuscularly. Children younger than two years old are given a shot in the muscles of the anterior surface of the thigh, and babies older than 2 years of age are given a vaccine in the shoulder (deltoid muscle).

Contraindications

Vaccination is not done if:

  • The child revealed intolerance to pneumococcal vaccine.
  • The baby has an acute illness or any chronic illness has become exacerbated.
  • The body temperature of the child is increased.

In case of intolerance, vaccination with pneumococcal vaccine is canceled, and in other cases it is postponed until the baby recovers. After blood transfusions vaccination is carried out in 3-4 months. If you ignore the contraindications and instill a sick baby, his condition will deteriorate sharply.

pros
  • The vaccine acts on pneumococci, protecting the child from pneumonia, endocarditis, otitis media, meningitis, arthritis and other infections caused by this type of streptococcus. Even if the disease appears, its course will be easy.
  • Pneumococcal vaccines rarely cause adverse reactions.
  • There are very few contraindications for this vaccine.
Minuses
  • Vaccine components, although extremely rare, can cause severe allergic reactions.
  • In Prevenar vaccine, there are not all pneumococcal serotypes that can cause infections in children.
  • Immunocompromised children suffer poorly from this vaccine.
Side effect

Pneumococcal vaccine rarely produces side effects; they are usually presented:

  • The appearance of a seal at the injection site, pain, and redness. It happens in 5% of kids.
  • A slight increase in temperature in 1% of children.
  • Drowsiness, tearfulness, irritability, decreased appetite, lethargy.
Possible complications

The introduction of pneumococcal vaccine can cause an immediate allergic reaction – urticaria, bronchospasm, anaphylactic shock. If the vaccine is given to a premature baby, it can stop breathing.

Other complications can be:

  • Severe local reaction – there is redness and swelling of more than 8 mm on the limbs.
  • High body temperature – more than 39 degrees.
  • Swollen lymph nodes.
  • Abscess at the injection site.
  • Diarrhea and bouts of vomiting.
  • Exacerbation of chronic disease.
Is it possible to prevent complications?

To prevent the occurrence of a reaction to pneumococcal vaccine, you need to monitor the baby for 2-3 weeks before the vaccination date. Making sure that the baby is completely healthy, his body temperature is normal, the oropharynx is not hyperemic, there is no rhinitis, and chronic diseases are under control, we can safely inoculate against pneumococcus.

By placing the vaccine, you do not need to leave the medical facility for at least 30 minutes to make sure that there will be no immediate allergic reaction to the vaccine. Immediately after vaccination, it is better to limit the contact of the baby with strangers for several days.

Should I vaccinate?

Since studies have shown that babies up to 2 years old are most susceptible to pneumococci, vaccination against such bacteria can be called a justified step. All the diseases that this vaccine protects against are very serious and pose a great danger to young children.

Any illness, even a simple cold, can lead to the activation of pneumococci. And the best prevention can be called timely immunization with pneumococcal vaccine. This vaccine is especially important for weakened children, because they have a higher risk of developing pneumonia.

What if there are adverse reactions?

If the injection site turned red, it became dense and painful, you need to take care of it correctly. It is possible to bathe the child, but the treatment of the injection site with antiseptics is not recommended, as is the use of a compress or a patch.

When the temperature rises, the child can be given an approved antipyretic drug. If parents notice that the baby’s condition is worsening and the side effects of vaccination do not go away, it is important to immediately contact a pediatrician.

Reviews

Some parents are opposed to such vaccinations, because they believe that the vaccination schedule for children under 2 years of age includes too many vaccinations. At the same time, they agree to learn more about the vaccine and, if necessary, for example, with frequent diseases, vaccinate their children.

Other parents treat the pneumococcal vaccine positively, believing that it is better to protect their baby from possible risks than to regret the lost opportunity. And since such a vaccine is included in the national calendar, this cannot be an accident, respectively, the drug was checked and the need for such vaccination for Russian children was assessed.

2 thoughts on “Should I vaccinate against pneumonia in children?

  1. Found this on yahoo and I’m happy I did. Well written web.

  2. I wanted to create you this tiny observation so as to say thank you yet again considering the exceptional guidelines you have featured on this site. It is so shockingly generous with people like you to offer easily all many of us would’ve made available as an e-book to earn some bucks for their own end, precisely since you might have done it if you decided. These thoughts also acted to be the great way to be aware that other people online have the identical fervor much like mine to figure out great deal more regarding this condition. I know there are a lot more enjoyable occasions ahead for those who read your site.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *