Medication Information Leaflet
Pneumococcal vaccines help to prevent pneumococcal disease caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Pneumococcal disease includes infection of the lungs (pneumonia), ear (otitis media), brain (meningitis), blood (bacteremia) and other serious infections.
Symptoms of pneumococcal disease vary depending on the infected organ. It can range from low-grade fever, cough, earache and chest pain, to more serious symptoms such as confusion or severe headaches.
There are 2 types of vaccines available:
PCV13 vaccine protects against 13 pneumococcal bacteria strains that most commonly cause pneumococcal disease, while the PPSV23 protects against 23 strains. PCV13 when given before PPSV23, provides extended protection in a selected group of patients, as compared to giving PPSV23 alone.
All infants should be given two doses of PCV13 (at ages 4 and 6 months), with a booster at 12 months. Children who fall behind should be given catch-up vaccination through to 59 months of age. You may refer to the Singapore National Childhood Immunisation Schedule or ask your child’s doctor for more details.
In the elderly aged 65 years and above, one dose each of PCV13 and PPSV23 is recommended to provide lifetime protection.
Please consult your doctor for more details (e.g. on the number of recommended doses and types of vaccine) for the following medical conditions:
Click here to book a pneumococcal vaccination appointment.
Inform your healthcare professional if:
It is given by injection into a muscle.
For individuals in which both PCV13 and PPSV23 are recommended, and who have yet to receive any pneumococcal vaccine, PCV13 should be given first, followed by PPSV23 a year later (or at least after a minimum interval of 8 weeks) for better protection.
Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) are rare and can happen within minutes to a few hours after vaccination.
The symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include one or more of the following:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should inform your healthcare professional immediately.
Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
Last updated on December 2022
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This article was last reviewed on Thursday, June 22, 2023