Pneumococcal Vaccine, Polyvalent

Trade Names:
Pneumovax 23
- Injection 25 mcg each of 23 polysaccharide isolates/0.5 mL dose

Pharmacology

User Reviews & Ratings As a treatment for... Avg User Ratings [?] Pneumococcal Disease Prophylaxis Be the first to rate it 0 reviews Compare with other drugs.

Induces antibodies against 23 capsular types of Streptococcus pneumoniae . Type-specific antibody facilitates bacterial destruction by complement-mediated lysis.

Indications and Usage

Protection against pneumococcal pneumonia, pneumococcal bacteremia, and other pneumococcal infections.

Contraindications

Patients with Hodgkin disease who have received extensive chemotherapy or nodal irradiation; patients with Hodgkin disease cannot have immunization less than 10 days before or during chemotherapy; children younger than 2 yr of age. Some packages contain thimerosal as preservative; use cautiously in mercury-sensitive patients or choose different brand.

Dosage and Administration

Subcutaneous / IM 0.5 mL.

Revaccinate recipients of 14-valent pneumococcal vaccine (distributed from 1977 to 1983) who are also at highest risk of fatal pneumococcal infection (eg, asplenic patients), using 23-valent vaccine. Revaccinate adults who received 23-valent vaccine 6 or more yr earlier if they also are at highest risk or are likely to have rapid decline in antibody levels (eg, patients with asplenia, nephrotic syndrome, or renal failure; transplant recipients). Consider revaccination of children with nephrotic syndrome, asplenia or sickle-cell anemia after 3 to 5 yr, if these children would be younger than 10 yr of age at time of revaccination.

General Advice

For subcutaneous or IM administration only. Not for intradermal, IV, or intraarterial administration.

Storage/Stability

Store in refrigerator (36° to 46°F). Do not freeze.

Drug Interactions

In patients anticipating immunosuppression, response to pneumococcal vaccine is best if administered 10 to 14 days prior to immunosuppressive chemotherapy or radiation. Pneumococcal and influenza vaccines and HIB, meningococcal and pneumococcal vaccines safely and effectively may be administered simultaneously at separate injection sites. As with other drugs administered by IM injection, give pneumococcal vaccine with caution to patients receiving anticoagulant therapy.

Laboratory Test Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Local

Erythema and soreness at injection site, usually less than 48 h in duration. Local induration occurs less commonly.

Systemic

Rash, arthralgia, adenitis, fever higher than 39°C (102°F), malaise, myalgia, and asthenia occur rarely. Low-grade fever (under 38.3°C or 100.9°F) occurs occasionally and usually subsides within 24 h. Patients with otherwise stabilized immune thrombocytopenic purpura may rarely experience relapse in thrombocytopenia, 2 to 14 days after vaccination, lasting up to 2 wk. Anaphylactoid reactions rarely reported.

Precautions

Pregnancy

Category C . Vaccinate if risk of disease outweighs risk to patients.

Lactation

Undetermined.

Patient Information

• Instruct parents on risks and benefits of vaccination.
• Explain that tepid bath may reduce pain at injection site.
• Advise parents to complete all immunizations.
• Explain that low-grade fever is transient and should subside in 24 h.
• Tell patient or parents to notify health care provider immediately if any serious adverse reactions occur (eg, shortness of breath, hives, wheezing).
• This vaccine is usually only needed once.

Link to Page

Print Page

Email Page

Add to List