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Vaccination Schedule for Prevnar 13^®

Getting Started

Children 2 months old may be ready to get started on Prevnar 13^®. In fact, the schedule for unvaccinated infants can begin as early as 6 weeks.

Following Through

Doctors at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that children receive 4 doses of Prevnar 13^® by the time they are 15 months old. See the complete schedule for infants and toddlers below.

Making the Transition

Children who have received one or more doses of Prevnar^® (Pneumococcal 7-valent Conjugate Vaccine [Diphtheria CRM₁₉₇ Protein]) may complete the 4-dose immunization series with 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^®.

Following Up

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 1 additional dose.

Broader Serotype Coverage for Children Already Vaccinated with
4 Doses of Prevnar^®

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^®.

Talk to your child's doctor about the risks and benefits of Prevnar 13^®. Only a health care provider can decide if Prevnar 13^® is right for your child.

Learn more: Completing the Full Vaccination Schedule

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^®