What is Prevnar 13?
Prevnar 13, also called pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or PCV13, is a vaccine manufactured by Wyeth and marketed by Pfizer. It is used to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia and invasive disease caused by 13 strains of the streptococcus bacteria.
What are the uses and side effects?
Prevnar 13 is recommended for all children under 5, all adults over 65 and persons age 6 to 64 with certain medical conditions. The vaccine is used to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia and other invasive diseases.
Common side effects of the PCV13 vaccine include:
- pain or redness at injection site
- limited arm movement
- tiredness
- headache
Other less common but serious side effects of the vaccine include:
- chest pain
- seizures
- rash, itchy skin
- swelling of the face, throat or tongue
- difficulty breathing
Anyone experiencing these side effects should contact their doctor immediately.
What if one stalk of broccoli could protect you from cancer? What if one push-up could prevent heart disease? Wishful thinking, right? But there is one step you can take to prevent another serious disease — pneumococcal pneumonia. One dose of the vaccine can help protect you from pneumococcal pneumonia, an illness that can cause coughing, chest pain, difficulty breathing and even put you in the hospital.
Prevnar 13 is used in adults 50 and older to help prevent infections from 13 strains of the bacteria that cause pneumococcal pneumonia. You should not receive Prevnar 13 if you have had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine or its ingredients. If you have a weakened immune system, you may have a lower response to the vaccine. Common side effects were pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, limited arm movement, fatigue, headache, muscle or joint pain, less appetite, chills, or rash. Even if you have already been vaccinated with another pneumonia vaccine, Prevnar 13 may help provide additional protection.
Get this one done!
Ask your health care professional about PCV 13 today.
Have there been any lawsuits from people who took Prevnar 13?
So far, no lawsuits have occurred from people who were given this vaccine.
Learn more
The following websites have more information: