The pneumococcal vaccine
| Published: 8th August 2007 11:26 |
The pneumococcal vaccine (or pneumo vaccine for short) protects against pneumococcal infection.
This infection can cause diseases such as pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis.
Children are offered pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) at two, four and 13 months, with people who are 65 and over being routinely offered pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine to protect against pneumococcal disease.
The changes, recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are:
The introduction of a new vaccine to protect against pneumococcal infection;
A pneumococcal vaccination catch-up programme;
Amending the MenC vaccination schedule to give two doses of vaccine in the first year of life, and a booster dose in the second year;
The addition of a booster dose of Hib vaccine in the second year of life.
New vaccination schedule - Up to 13 months (from 4th Sept 06)
2 months DTaP/IPV/Hib+pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
3 months DTaP/IPV/Hib+MenC vaccine
4 months DTaP/IPV/Hib+MenC+pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
12 months Hib/MenC
13 months MMR+pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
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