Pneumococcal vaccination

The pneumococcal bacteria can cause ear infections, pneumonia and more serious invasive disease such as meningitis and septicaemia. In Australia it is estimated that three in every 1000 children will have at lease one episode of invasive pneumococcal diseas by age five, and every year hundreds of children are hospitalised for treatment of pneumococcal infection.
An effective vaccine is available that protects against the seven types of pneumococcal becteria, which cause 85% of invsive pnemococcal disease in children younger than five. The Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule recommends vaccinating all Australian  children at ages two, four and six months. It also recommends all children up to age two are vaccinated against pneumococcal disease.

What is pneumococcal disease?
Pneumoccal disease is caused by infection with the pneumoccal bacteria. Most commonly it causes; middle-ear infections; pneumonia. The most serious invasive diseases caused by the bacteria are; septicaemia (where the bacteria infects the bloodstream); meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain). Invasive disease can be treated with antibiotics, however, the illness can have serious outcomes, including deafness and disability.  Although the risk is small it can be reduced by further vaccination.
How effective is the vaccine?
There are two types of pneumococcal vaccine available in Australia; a vaccine that can protect babies, children and adults against seven types of pneumococcal bacteria (Prevenar), and a vaccine that can protect older children and adults against 23 typess (Pneumovax 23). Up to age nine, children who are not in a high-risk group should be vaccinated with Prevenar because this vaccine is far more effective in children.

How safe is the vaccine?
The vaccine contains water, salt and sugars from the pneumococcal strains joined into a diptheria protein. It also contains aluminium to boost the body’s immune response to the vaccine. It does not contain antibiotics.
Need more information? The National Immunisation Program
http://immunise.health.gov.au/nip/public.htmP