The common vaccines of pneumonia basically consist of strains of material that are derived from the pneumococci bacteria. These vaccines do not contain any living part of the bacteria. There are two major vaccines that are available one is the 23- valent polysaccharide vaccine this vaccines basically works for the adults and not for children. Then there is 7-valent conjugate vaccine (Prevnar or PCV7) this vaccine is mostly for the children and not for adults. These vaccines are fast gaining importance and are now considered as an effective measure against the pneumonial infections. These are gaining popularity mainly because of the resistance that has been developed by the bacteria against the antibiotics.
Who should be given these vaccines?
These vaccines should be given to people with weak immunity mostly people who are aged and young children are more susceptible to pneumonia. People whose immune system is suppressed due to the intake of autoimmune diseases also have the fear in contracting these viruses so they need vaccine for the treatment of pneumonia. There are few groups of human beings that have more susceptibility towards pneumonia; like in U.S pneumonia is more common to African Americans than to the Caucasians.
Now doctors have started recommended these vaccines to children and infants too so:
a)All children who are upto the age of 2cyears are more likely to be vulnerable of these diseases. So now pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar or PCV7) has also been recommended by the doctors and is said to be safe for the use of children and this has been further added as vaccine in the child immunization schedule. These vaccines not only prevent children from pneumonia related diseases but also make them resistive to serious respiratory diseases. Thus preventing children from infections and inflammations.
b)These vaccines are now also given to children who have sickle cell diseases and even to those who have immune deficiencies. These vaccines have also been recommended for children with chronic diseases.
c)Children mostly who are African natives or those who are more susceptible to diseases like native Americans or even socially or economically backward children as they are also vulnerable to such infection. So they are recommended to give such vaccinations. Children who have complication in the middle ear and acute ear infections are also recommended these vaccines now.
Apart from the above mentioned people, now these vaccines are also been recommended and some advise is also been given by doctors to the following patients:
a)Every person who is over 65 years of age, if the person has been vaccinated before, do check the last time when the vaccines were given., If they were given earlier than 5 years then person is advised to be revaccinated. There are people like the Caucasians who are getting these vaccines more than the African Americans but truth is that Caucasians are less vulnerable to such infections so they should be vaccinated less.
b)People who are suffering from disease like AIDS are more likely to get these diseases so they should be getting vaccination done regularly. Even the immune suppressant taking patients are advised to get themselves vaccinated.
c)Patients that are undergoing any organ transplant or heart transplant or even a kidney transplant are advised to get proper vaccination done. They require revaccination in every six years or so.
d)Doctors are also advising the patients with problems in spleen to get vaccination done properly.
e)People who have alcoholic habits are advised to get proper vaccination done. Especially people with cirrhosis should take extreme care.
One basic advise to everyone if you have any habits that make you susceptible to pneumonia infections then they should properly vaccinate themselves. Do remember the maximum period that this vaccine makes you immune to this disease is 6 years and this period generally decreases as you grow old, means older aged people will be immune for a less period than the younger people. So get revaccination done in proper time gaps.
Immunization schedule:
There is a set schedule for the vaccinations given for the treatment and prevention of pneumonial infections. The PCV7 vaccine should be given in four doses to the children. While for the infants the dose should start from 7th month to the 11th month giving just three doses of the vaccine. Children who are starting their immunization from 12th to the 23rd month should get the vaccination done twice, but people who are two years old need only one dose of the vaccine.
Vaccination related Side effects:
The pneumonial prevention or treatment vaccines even have bit side effects; these are fever, joint aches or even pain and redness in the area where the injection is injected. Children who take these vaccines are more likely to show such side effects, they have the chances to contract fever within 48 hours of getting theses vaccines done. These side effects are not severe except some rare cases. If the person getting this vaccination even before the effects of first vaccines have worn out then the chances of developing any side effects are really very feeble. There is no risk to pregnant women and wont even cause any allergic reactions to the person taking the medicine.