Your child, Prevnar^® 13 and pneumococcal disease

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or PCV (Prevnar^® 13) is a vaccine that helps protect infants and children against invasive pneumococcal disease such as meningitis, sepsis, bacteraemic pneumonia, pleural empyema and bacteraemia caused by 13 serotypes of a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae.^1,2,3

In 2001, Prevnar^® (7-valent) was introduced to the market. It helped protect against seven common strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Now there are fewer of the original bacterial strains, but there is an increase in other strains that cause invasive pneumococcal disease. That's why Prevnar^®13 was developed – with six additional strains – to help provide your child with protection from the strains that can cause serious pneumococcal disease.^1,2

Children less than five years, especially those less than two years, have the highest risk of developing invasive pneumococcal disease.³

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is part of the publicly funded immunization schedule in all Canadian provinces and territories.⁴

The Canadian Immunization Guide recommends the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for routine administration for all children ≤23 months of age. It is also recommended for children 24 to 59 months at higher risk* of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and should be considered for all other children in this age group.⁴

This website has been designed to assist you and your health care provider determine if Prevnar^® 13 is right for your child. As you move through the site, you will find information about the following topics:

• Pneumococcal disease – what it is, how common it is in Canada and who is at risk
• Prevnar^® 13 – what it’s used for, what it does, how it is given and possible side effects
• The recommended immunization schedule for Prevnar^® 13
• Prevnar^® 13 safety information
  
• Links to websites with additional information about immunization

* High-risk children include those who attend child care centres, are Aboriginal, have sickle cell disease and other sickle cell hemoglobinopathies, have other types of functional or anatomic asplenia, HIV infection, immunocompromising conditions (e.g., primary immunodeficiencies; malignancies; conditions resulting from immunosuppressive therapy, solid organ transplantation, or use of long-term corticosteroids; nephrotic syndrome), chronic medical conditions (e.g., chronic cardiac and pulmonary disease such as broncho-pulmonary dysplasia, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal disease or CSF leak) and children with cochlear implants.^1,4

Children in these groups may have reduced antibody response to active immunization due to impaired immune responsiveness. Vaccination in high-risk groups should be considered on an individual basis.¹

The use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine does not replace the use of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in children ≥24 months of age with sickle cell disease, asplenia, HIV infection, chronic illness or who are immunocompromised, placing them at higher risk for invasive disease due to S. pneumoniae.¹


1. Prevnar^® 13 Product Monograph. Pfizer Canada Inc., November 2010.
2. Prevnar^® Product Monograph, Wyeth Canada, December 22, 2008.
3. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). Statement on recommended use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Canada Communicable Disease Report 2002;28(ACS-2):1–32.
4. Public Health Agency of Canada. Seventh Edition Canadian Immunization Guide, 2006.