PCV vaccine can prevent infections caused by pneumococcal bacteria cause dangerous diseases, such as meningitis and pneumonia.To protect yourself and your family from the disease, the PCV vaccine can be given as an appropriate form of prevention.
PCV vaccine or Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is a vaccine that contains part of the cell wall of the pneumococcal bacteria. These bacteria can cause serious infectious diseases, such as meningitis, pneumonia, and blood infections or sepsis.
Basically, the PCV vaccine is divided into two types, namely PCV13 and PPSV23. Both types of vaccine can be given to children and adults to prevent diseases caused by pneumococcal bacteria.
Who Should Receive the PCV Vaccine?
Pneumococcal bacterial infection is more common in children under 5 years of age and the elderly. Therefore, it is recommended that children and the elderly receive the PCV vaccine or the pneumonia vaccine.
However, in addition to children and the elderly, the PCV vaccine also needs to be given to people who have certain diseases or medical conditions, such as:
- Weak immune system, for example due to HIV infection and chemotherapy side effects
- Birth defects, such as congenital heart disease
- Chronic diseases, such as asthma, diabetes, and chronic kidney failure
- Blood disorders, such as thalassemia and sickle cell anemia
- History of surgery, such as cochlear implant surgery, organ transplantation, or removal of the spleen
- Smoking habit
Although it is important to obtain, the PCV vaccine should be postponed to be given to pregnant and lactating women or people who are sick, such as fever.
In pregnant women, PCV vaccination may be best delayed until after delivery. The PCV vaccine also needs to be watched out for in people who have a history of allergies or anaphylactic reactions to the vaccine.
When is the PCV Vaccine Needed?
The schedule for PCV immunization varies from person to person depending on age. The following is the recommended PCV immunization schedule for children:
- The PCV vaccine is given to children at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, then repeated at 12–15 months of age.
- For children aged 7-12 months who have not received the PCV vaccine, the PCV vaccine is given 2 times with the first and second doses of PCV vaccine being given a 2-month interval.
- For children over 1 year old who have not received the PCV vaccine, the vaccine is only given once. However, re-administration of PCV vaccine may be carried out at least 2 months after administration of the first PCV vaccine.
In adults over 50 years of age, the PCV vaccine only needs to be received once for a lifetime. Meanwhile, for people who are at high risk of being infected with pneumococcal bacteria due to smoking habits or certain health problems, the dose of PCV vaccine can be given only once or routinely every 5 years.
Is the PCV Vaccine Safe to Use?
Like other vaccines, PCV vaccine can also cause side effects, such as fever, pain and swelling at the injection site for PCV vaccine, and decreased appetite. However, these side effects are mild and usually get better on their own in about 2 days.
Sometimes, the PCV vaccine can cause side effects in the form of allergic reactions or even severe allergies (anaphylaxis), but these serious side effects are very rare. Therefore, in general, administering the PCV vaccine is a safe and effective measure to prevent dangerous pneumococcal bacterial infections.
However, you are advised to consult a doctor if the side effects of the PCV vaccine do not improve within more than 2 days or if a severe allergic reaction occurs, such as shortness of breath, weakness, or fainting after receiving the PCV vaccine.