pneumococcal vaccine

Sorry, this is a bit long - have just cut it from the product licence at www.spmsd.co.uk

Antibody levels are likely to decline rapidly in individuals with no spleen, with splenic dysfunction or with chronic renal disease and therefore reimmunisation with 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine is recommended every five years in these groups. Revaccination is well-tolerated . Testing of antibody levels prior to vaccination is not required.
Although there is evidence of decline in protection with time, there are no studies showing additional protection from boosting individuals with other indications including age, and therefore routine re-vaccination is not currently recommended.

Individuals who have previously received12- or 14-valent polysaccharide or 7-valent conjugate vaccine should be immunised with the 23-valent poly saccharide vaccine to gain protection from the additional serotypes
Ref Immunisation against infectious disease (The Green Book) 2006; Chapter 25, p304.


Pneumovax® II
Revaccination at an interval of less than three years is not recommended because of an increased risk of adverse reactions. However, revaccination is generally well tolerated with intervals of three years or longer between doses. A modestly increased rate of self-limited local reactions has been observed compared with primary vaccination.
Healthy adults and children should not be revaccinated routinely.

Adults
Revaccination is recommended for persons at increased risk of serious pneumococcal infection who were given pneumoccal vaccine more than 5 years earlier or for those known to have a rapid decline in pneumococcal antibody levels.
For selected populations (e.g. asplenics) who are known to be at high risk of fatal pneumococcal infection, revaccination at three years should be considered.

Children
Revaccination after three years should be considered for children 10 years old or younger at highest risk of pneumococcal infection (e.g. those with nephrotic syndrome, asplenia or sickle cell disease).
Ref SPC 4.2.


Paula


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