Prevnar 20
Prevnar 20 is a vaccine that prevents people 6 weeks of age and older from getting pneumococcal disease that's caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae (or "pneumococcus"). Prevnar 20 is commonly used to prevent pneumonia in adults. After the vaccine gets injected into the muscle, it helps your immune system build up protection against infection. The dosing schedule depends on your age, your medical conditions, and your previous pneumococcal vaccinations. Prevnar 20 side effects generally differ by age, but can include pain at the injection site and fatigue.
What is Prevnar 20?
What is Prevnar 20 used for?
Prevention of pneumococcal infections in people 6 weeks of age and older
Prevention of pneumococcal ear infections in children between 6 weeks and 5 years of age
Prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia in adults 18 years and older
How Prevnar 20 works
Prevnar 20 is a vaccine that protects you against pneumococcal disease, an infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae (also known as "pneumococcus"). This bacteria can infect many parts of the body and cause serious problems.
Prevnar 20 is a conjugate vaccine that can protect you against 20 types of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The vaccine contains a small piece of the bacteria.
When you get Prevnar 20, your immune system makes antibodies against the bacteria. These antibodies can recognize and attack the bacteria if it infects you.
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What are the side effects of Prevnar 20?
Common Side Effects
- Irritability
- Low appetite
- Pain, redness, or swelling at injection site
- Muscle pain
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Sleepiness
- Pain at injection site
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
- Headache
Serious Side Effects
- Serious allergic reactions: hives, dizziness, fever, rash, shaking, itching, nausea, flushing, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, chest pain
Source: DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Pain, redness, or irritation at injection site
Pros and cons of Prevnar 20
Pros
Offers protection against more types of pneumococcus than Prevnar 13
Recommended by the CDC to prevent pneumococcal infections
Not made with latex
Pharmacist tips for Prevnar 20
Dosing schedules for vaccinations can be very confusing. Ask your provider or pharmacist about timing, planning, and scheduling your Prevnar 20 vaccine dose(s) if you need guidance.
Make sure to keep a record of all your immunizations and show it to your provider or pharmacist before getting any vaccine, including Prevnar 20. This is helpful for your providers to figure out what vaccines you need to stay up to date.
The most common Prevnar 20 side effects include pain or swelling at the site of injection, tiredness, muscle aches, headaches, and joint pain. They typically last only a few days. Talk to your provider if these side effects don't go away with time.
If you're feeling sick, it's best to wait until you're healthy to get Prevnar 20 to make sure your immune system protects you as best as it can. With that said, you can still get Prevnar 20 if you have a mild sickness, such as a cold or low-grade fever. But if you feel moderately to severely sick, wait until you recover before getting this vaccine. Ask your provider if you're not sure whether you can get Prevnar 20 if you're feeling unwell.
If you get a severe reaction to Prevnar 20, you or your provider can report it to the vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS) website or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
Read the vaccine information statement for the pneumococcal vaccine for more information.
Frequently asked questions about Prevnar 20
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What are the risks and warnings for Prevnar 20?
Prevnar 20 can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe allergic reactions
As with any vaccine, there's a rare chance that you might have a severe allergic reaction to Prevnar 20. Your provider might ask you to stay at the pharmacy or clinic for a short period of time after you've gotten your vaccine. Your provider can give you proper care if a serious allergic reaction happens during this time. But sometimes, allergic reactions can happen after you've already left the clinic. Get medical help right away if you notice symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as feeling faint, swelling of the face, closing of the throat, difficulty breathing, hives, rash, dizziness, shaking, nausea, or chest pain.
Lower response to Prevnar 20 in people with a weakened immune system
Risk factors: Medical conditions that weaken the immune system | Taking medications that lower your immune system
Pneumococcal vaccines like Prevnar 20 might not work as well in people with a weak immune system. This can raise the risk for pneumococcal infections such as pneumonia, even after they've gotten vaccinated against the bacteria. Make sure your providers know about any medical conditions you might have that can weaken the immune system, like HIV or cancer. Also tell them about the medications you take; some medications can weaken your immune system, including high-dose corticosteroids and transplant medications. Talk with your provider first before getting Prevnar 20.
Breathing issues (apnea) in premature babies
Risk factors: Premature birth
Some babies who were born prematurely had breathing problems after they got vaccines were injected into the muscle. Be sure to talk to your child's provider about the benefits and risks of Prevnar 20 (a vaccine that's injected into the muscle) if your baby was born prematurely. The provider will discuss whether Prevnar 20 is right for your child.
Prevnar 20 dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5ml | 1 syringe | $277.48 | $277.48 |
Typical dosing for Prevnar 20
Prevnar 20 is given as an injection into the muscle by a healthcare provider. It's given into the thigh muscle for babies and young children and into the shoulder muscle for older children and adults.
Dosing schedules for vaccinations can be very confusing, so be sure to ask your provider or pharmacist about timing, planning, and scheduling your Prevnar 20 vaccine dose(s).
Routine vaccination for children ages 6 weeks to 15 months: Routine vaccination consists of 4 doses. It's given as 1 injection at age 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 though 15 months. The first dose can be given as early as 6 weeks of age.
Catch-up vaccination for children who've never received a pneumococcal vaccine
Ages 7 to 11 months: Catch-up consists of 3 injections. The first two injections are given at least 1 month apart from each other. The third injection is given after your child turns 1 year old (must be at least 2 months after the second injection).
Ages 1 to under 2 years: Catch-up consists of 2 injections given at least 2 months apart from each other.
Ages 2 years to 17 years: Catch-up consists of 1 injection of Prevnar 20 given at any time.
Catch-up vaccination for children who've previously received at least one dose of another pneumococcal vaccine: Catch-up consists of 1 injection given at least 2 months after the most recent dose of the other pneumococcal vaccine.
Vaccination for adults ages 18 years and older: The typical dose is 1 injection of Prevnar 20 into the muscle.
How much does Prevnar 20 cost?
Prevnar 20 contraindications
What are alternatives to Prevnar 20?
Prevention of pneumococcal infections in people 6 weeks of age and older
Prevention of pneumococcal ear infections in children between 6 weeks and 5 years of age
Prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia in adults 18 years and older
Prevention of pneumococcal infections in children and adults
Prevention of pneumococcal disease (infections caused by pneumococcus) in people 6 weeks and older
Prevention of ear infections caused by pneumococcus in children 6 weeks to 5 years old
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References
Best studies we foundCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Types of infection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Administering pneumococcal vaccines.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Pneumococcal disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Pneumococcal vaccination.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Pneumococcal vaccination: Summary of who and when to vaccinate.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Pneumococcal vaccination: What everyone should know.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Pneumococcal vaccine timing for adults.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Vaccine Information Statement (interim): Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
Pfizer Inc. (2021). U.S. FDA approves Prevnar 20™, Pfizer’s pneumococcal 20-valent conjugate vaccine for adults ages 18 years or older. Business Wire.
Sabharwal, C., et al. (2022). Immunogenicity of a 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in adults 18 to 64 years old with medical conditions and other factors that increase risk of pneumococcal disease. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics.
World Health Organization. (2020). How do vaccines work?
Wyeth Pharmaceutical Division of Wyeth Holdings LLC. (2023). Prevnar 20- pneumococcal 20-valent conjugate vaccine injection, suspension [package insert]. DailyMed.
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