Prevnar 13

Prevnar 13 is a vaccine used to prevent infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae that can cause pneumonia, blood infections, and meningitis.

Prevnar 13 is given as a shot into the muscle of the thigh or upper arm. 

Common side effects of Prevnar 13 include pain or tenderness, redness, and swelling at the injection site. 

Prevnar 13 is a vaccine used to prevent disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in persons aged 6 weeks and older. 

• In children 6 weeks through 5 years of age (prior to the 6th birthday), Prevnar 13 is indicated for:

  • active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F.
  • active immunization for the prevention of otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F. No otitis media efficacy data are available for serotypes 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F, and 19A.

• In children 6 years through 17 years of age (prior to the 18th birthday), Prevnar 13 is indicated for:

  • active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F.

• In adults 50 years of age and older, Prevnar 13 is indicated for:

  • active immunization for the prevention of pneumonia and invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F.
• Prevnar 13 does not protect against disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes that are not in the vaccine.

• Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Company

Side effects reported with Prevnar 13 in persons aged 2 months to 15 months old include:

• irritability
• tenderness, redness, and swelling at the injection site
• fever
• decreased appetite
• increased or decreased sleep

Side effects reported with Prevnar 13 in persons aged 5 years to 17 years old include:

• tenderness, redness, and swelling at the injection site
• fever
• decreased appetite
• irritability
• increased or decreased sleep
• hives

Side effects reported with Prevnar 13 in adults aged 50 years and older include:

• pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site
• limitation of arm movement where injection occurred
• fatigue
• headache
• chills
• rash
• decreased appetite
• muscle pain
• joint pain

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or unusual symptoms after you receive Prevnar 13. For a complete list of side effects, ask your health care provider.

To report suspected adverse reactions, contact VAERS at 1-800-822-7967 or at http://vaers.hhs.gov. 

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you or your child take or has received:

• immunosuppressive therapies, including irradiation, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, cytotoxic drugs and corticosteroids
• fever reducers
• certain influenza vaccine
• any other vaccines

This is not a complete list of Prevnar 13 drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. 

Serious side effects have been reported with Prevnar 13 including the following:

• Allergic reactions. Tell your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms of  allergic reactions, which include the following:
  • chest pain
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • rash
• Altered immunocompetence. If Prevnar 13 is administered to immunocompromised persons (individuals receiving immunosuppressive therapy, have HIV, have malignancy), the expected immune response may not be obtained.
• Premature infants may stop breathing. Breathing issues have been observed in some infants born prematurely. Decisions about when to administer an intramuscular vaccine, including Prevnar 13, to infants born prematurely should be based on consideration of the individual infant's medical status and the potential benefits and possible risks of vaccination.

Do not get Prevnar 13 if you or your child had a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any component of Prevnar 13 or any diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Prevnar 13, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication. 

Tell your healthcare provider if you or your child:

• has had a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any component of Prevnar 13 or any diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine
• are going to receive other vaccines
• are immunocompromised
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding

Tell you doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. 

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Prevnar 13 falls into category B. There are no well done studies that have been done in animals with Prevnar 13. This vaccine should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Tell your doctor is you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. 

It is not known if Prevnar 13 crosses into human milk. Because some vaccines can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this vaccine, caution should be exercised when Prevnar 13 is administered to a nursing woman.

Prevnar 13 is given by a healthcare provider as a shot into the thigh or upper arm. 

The preferred sites for injection are the thigh in infants and the muscle of the upper arm in toddlers, children and adults. 

Prevnar 13 is given by a healthcare provider as a single 0.5-mL dose injected into the muscle of the thigh or upper arm. 

• For children 7 months through 5 years of age who have not received Prevnar or Prevnar 13, the catch-up schedule depends on their age.
  • ​7-11 months of age: 3 doses with the first 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart and the third dose after the one-year birthday, separated from the second dose by at least 2 months.
  • 12-23 months of age: 2 doses at least 2 months apart.
  • 24 months through 5 years of age (prior to the 6th birthday): 1 dose
• Children 15 months through 5 years of age who are considered completely immunized with Prevnar may receive one dose of Prevnar 13 to elicit immune responses to the 6 additional serotypes. This catch-up (supplemental) dose of Prevnar 13 should be administered with an interval of at least 8 weeks after the final dose of Prevnar. 
• In children 6 years through 17 years of age, Prevnar 13 is administered as single dose. If Prevnar was previously administered, then at least 8 weeks should elapse before receiving Prevnar 13.

Adults 50 years and older:

• Prevnar 13 is administered as a single dose.

Prevnar 13 is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting. It is unlikely that an overdose will occur in this setting. However, if overdoes is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.