April 2007
Pneumococcal (conjugate) vaccine
When should my child not get pneumococcal (conjugate) vaccine? Your child should not get pneumococcal (conjugate) vaccine if he has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to:
When should my child wait to get pneumococcal (conjugate) vaccine? If your child is moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled, he should usually wait until he is well before
getting pneumococcal (conjugate) vaccine. Check with your child's doctor to see whether he should wait.
Tell your child's doctor if the child has any of the following conditions. The doctor may recommend that your child wait or not receive pneumococcal (conjugate) vaccine if he:
What are the side effects from pneumococcal (conjugate) vaccine and what should I do if they occur? A vaccine, like any medication, may cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of pneumococcal vaccine
causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Pneumococcal vaccine can cause other side effects. Call your child's doctor
if he has any unusual problems after receiving this vaccine.
- A previous dose of pneumococcal vaccine
- A previous dose of diphtheria vaccine
- Latex (dry, natural rubber)
Tell your child's doctor if the child has any of the following conditions. The doctor may recommend that your child wait or not receive pneumococcal (conjugate) vaccine if he:
- Has HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system
- Is being treated with medications that affect the immune system, such as steroids, for two weeks or longer
- Has any type of cancer
- Is receiving cancer treatment with X-rays or medications
- Has or has ever had a low platelet count (a blood disorder that may cause unusual bruising or bleeding) or blood clotting
disease
- Is receiving anticoagulant (blood thinner) medication such as warfarin (Coumadin)
- Has had a reaction to any vaccine
| Side Effects (Mild) | What should I do? |
|---|---|
| Fever | Give acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) as directed by your child’s doctor |
| Redness, tenderness, pain, firmness, lump, or swelling where the shot was given | Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the sore area. Give acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) for pain, as directed by your child’s doctor. Call the doctor if the symptoms get worse or do not go away |
| Fussiness, restlessness, or irritability | Give acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) as directed by your child’s doctor |
| Drowsiness | Call your child’s doctor if this symptom gets worse or does not go away |
| Diarrhea, vomiting, or decreased appetite | Call your child’s doctor if this symptom gets worse or does not go away |
| Side Effects (Moderate or Severe) | What should I do? |
| Unusual changes in behavior | Call your child’s doctor |
| Serious allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; hoarseness or wheezing; hives; rash; itching; swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, or feet; paleness; weakness; fast heartbeat; or dizziness within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot) | Get emergency medical care for your child right away |
| High fever | Call your child’s doctor right away |
