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What Is Prevnar 13®? > Completing the Full Vaccination Schedule
Vaccinating children with Prevnar 13® is an effective way to help protect them against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD).
In order to receive the full benefits from Prevnar 13®, doctors recommend completing the entire 4-dose series at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months of age.
Children who have already started the vaccination series with Prevnar® (Pneumococcal 7-valent Conjugate Vaccine [Diphtheria CRM197 Protein]) can switch to Prevnar 13® at any point to complete the schedule. And, children 15 months to 5 years of age who have already received 4 doses of Prevnar® may receive protection against the 6 additional strains covered by Prevnar 13® with an additional dose of Prevnar 13®.
The immune response from this schedule might be lower for the 6 additional strains (types 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F, and 19A) than if your child had received the full 4 doses of Prevnar 13®.
Stay on schedule with Prevnar 13®
Whether your child is almost finished or just getting started, completing the entire
age-appropriate dosing series of Prevnar 13® is recommended by doctors at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics for children under age 2.
Learn more: Broader Coverage* for Children Already Vaccinated with 4 Doses of Prevnar®
INDICATIONS FOR PREVNAR 13®
- Prevnar 13® is a vaccine approved for use in children 6 weeks through 5 years for prevention of invasive disease (caused by the 13 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae included in the vaccine) and ear infections (caused by 7 of the 13 strains)
- Based upon immune responses to the vaccine, Prevnar 13® is also approved for adults 50 years and older for the prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia and invasive disease caused by the 13 vaccine strains
- Prevnar 13® is not 100% effective and will only help protect against the 13 strains included in the vaccine
- Effectiveness when given less than 5 years after a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is not known
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
- Prevnar 13® should not be given to anyone with a history of severe allergic reaction to any component of Prevnar 13® or any diphtheria toxoid–containing vaccine
- Children and adults with weakened immune systems (eg, HIV infection, leukemia) may have a reduced immune response
- A temporary pause of breathing following vaccination has been observed in some infants born prematurely
- The most commonly reported serious adverse events in children were bronchiolitis (an infection of the lungs) (0.9%), gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and small intestine) (0.9%), and pneumonia (0.9%)
- In infants and toddlers, the most common side effects were tenderness, redness or swelling at the injection site, irritability, decreased appetite, decreased or increased sleep, and fever
- In adults, immune responses to Prevnar 13® were reduced when given with injected seasonal flu vaccine
- In adults, the common side effects were pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, limitation of arm movement, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, decreased appetite, chills, or rash
- Ask your health care provider about the risks and benefits of Prevnar 13®. Only a health care provider can decide if Prevnar 13® is right for your child
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Visit www.vaers.hhs.gov or call 1-800-822-7967.
Please see Prescribing Information for Prevnar 13® 
*Compared to Prevnar®
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