What Is Prevnar^® 13 and How Is it Different from Prevnar^® (7-valent)?

Prevnar^® 13 is a vaccine that immunizes infants and children against serious diseases such as meningitis, sepsis, pleural empyema, bacteraemia and bacteraemic pneumonia, which are caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus pneumoniae. There are many strains of S. pneumoniae, but some are more common than others. First, Prevnar^® (7-valent) was developed in 2001 to help protect against the seven strains of the bacteria that caused the majority of diseases. But now, six additional strains have become more common. Prevnar^® 13 has added these six strains to the original seven so your child can be actively immunized against the predominant strains of the bacteria that cause invasive disease in Canadian children.^1,2 

 

Serotypes 19A, 6A and 3 have emerged as the predominant pneumococcal serotypes causing IPD in children, accounting for approximately 1/3 of residual IPD in 2007 in children less than 5 years of age.¹

19A is increasingly likely to be resistant to commonly used first-line antibiotics.¹

How Does Prevnar^® 13 Work?

Prevnar^® 13 works by helping the body make its own antibodies, which helps protect against diseases caused by the thirteen strains of S. pneumoniae contained in Prevnar^® 13.¹

When Should My Child Receive Prevnar^® 13?

Prevnar^® 13 should be given according to your provincial vaccination schedule recommendations. The recommended routine schedule is 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 to 15 months of age.¹



If Prevnar^® 13 is given as part of a routine infant immunization program, in some provinces a three-dose (2+1) schedule may be given at ages 2 months, 4 months and 11 to 12 months.¹



Prevnar^® 13 may be given to infants as young as 6 weeks and to children through 5 years of age.¹

Talk to your health care provider about the availability of Prevnar^® 13 in your province.

Does Prevnar^® 13 Have Any Side Effects?

Following vaccination with Prevnar^® 13 children may experience redness, tenderness, swelling at the injection site, fever, irritability, drowsiness, restless sleep, decreased appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. If there is pain or fever associated with the vaccine, you should talk to your health care provider.¹

Talk to your health care provider about vaccination with Prevnar^® 13.

Prevnar^® 13 is a pneumococcal vaccine that helps protect against 13 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Prevnar^® 13 contains the 7 strains that are included in Prevnar^® (7-valent), which has been marketed since 2001. Prevnar^® 13 works by helping the body make its own antibodies, which protect your child against diseases such as meningitis, sepsis or bacteraemia (bacteria in blood stream) and bacteraemic pneumonia caused by thirteen strains of the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae.¹

Prevnar^® 13 should not be used if your child is allergic (hypersensitive) to the active substances, to any other ingredients, or to any other vaccine that contains diphtheria toxoid.¹
 
Take special care with Prevnar^® 13:¹
•    If your child has any present or past medical problems after any dose of Prevnar^® (7-valent) or Prevnar^® 13
•    If your child is sick with a high fever
•    If your child has any bleeding problems

Prevnar^® 13 will only protect against diseases caused by the types of Streptococcus pneumoniae found in the vaccine.¹

As with any vaccine, Prevnar^® 13 will not protect 100% of those who receive the vaccine.¹


1. Prevnar^® 13 Product Monograph, Pfizer Canada Inc., November 2010.
2. Public Health Agency of Canada. Seventh Edition Canadian Immunization Guide, 2006.