Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent : Before Using

Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent - Systemic

Brand Names

Pneumovax 23, Pnu-Imune 23 Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Side Effects

Before Receiving This Vaccine

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For pneumococcal vaccine, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to pneumococcal vaccine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives - especially thimerosal.

Pregnancy care

Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or pets. However, if the vaccine is needed, it must be given after the first 3 months of pregnancy and only to women who have certain diseases or conditions that make them more susceptible to a pneumococcal infection or more likely to develop serious problems from a pneumococcal infection.

Breast-feeding problem

It is not known whether pneumococcal vaccine passes into breast milk. Although most medication pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be using safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are receiving this vaccine and who wish to breast-feed must discuss this with their family doctor.

Use for Children

Use of pneumococcal vaccine is not recommended in infants and children younger than 2 years of age. In children 2 years of age and older, this vaccine is not expected to cause various side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Elderly care

Many medication have not been studied specifically in elderly people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people. Although there is no special info comparing use of pneumococcal vaccine in the elderly with use in other age groups, this vaccine is not expected to cause various side effects or problems in elderly people than it does in adults people.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription - over-the-counter "OTC " drug.

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of pneumococcal vaccine. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Severe illness with fever The symptoms of the illness may be confusing with possible side effects of the vaccine

Previous severe reaction to the vaccine
Thrombocytopenic purpura - blood disorder Use of pneumococcal vaccine may make the condition worse