1. Travel Health and Vaccines Slideshow Pictures

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving this vaccine (Prevnar)?

Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. If the child ever has to receive another pneumococcal vaccine in the future, you will need to tell the doctor if the first shot caused any side effects.

Your child should not receive this vaccine if he or she has ever had an allergic reaction to a pneumococcal vaccine, or if the child has received cancer chemotherapy or radiation treatment in the past 3 months.

Before receiving PCV, tell your doctor if your child is allergic to any drugs, or if the child has:

• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia or easy bruising;
• a history of seizures;
• an allergy to latex rubber;
• a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
• if the child is taking a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin).

Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a cold or fever. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before receiving this vaccine.

How is this vaccine given (Prevnar)?

This vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle. Your child will receive this injection in a doctor's office or other clinic setting.

The PCV is given in a series of shots. The first shot is usually given when the child is 2 months old. The booster shots are then given at 4 months, 6 months, and 12 to 15 months of age.

The first PCV injection should be given no earlier than 6 weeks of age. Allow at least 2 months to pass between injections.

If your child is already 6 months or older, he or she can still receive this vaccine on the following schedule:

• Age 7-11 months: two injections at least 4 weeks apart, followed by a third injection after the child turns 1 year (at least 2 months after the second injection);
• Age 12-23 months: two injections at least 2 months apart;
• Age 2-9 years: one injection.

The timing of this vaccination is very important for it to be effective. Your child's individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.

A child who is 24 to 59 months old may need 1 or 2 additional doses of this vaccine if the child did not receive all recommended doses on a prior schedule, or if the child has a certain medical condition or weakened immune system.

Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how much of this medicine to give your child.

It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring in a child who has a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.

Be sure to keep your child on a regular schedule for other immunizations such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis, and varicella (chicken pox). Your doctor or state health department can provide you with a recommended immunization schedule.

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