Article written by Dr Jerome.
What is Pneumococcus?
Pneumococcus is a bacteria that causes severe infections (invasive pneumococcal disease) such as chest infection, blood infection, brain membrane infection (meningitis) and infection of the air sinuses in your face (sinusitis). This bacteria has a special membrane on its surface that makes our body's immunity difficult to remove from our body.
Who is at risk of infection?
Severe infection is more common in children 4 years old and younger and people 65 years and older.
How common is severe pneumococcal infection in Singapore?
There are about 380 severe cases of pneumococcal infections in Singapore per year. Half of these cases are adults and 21% of these adults pass away. Streptococcus pneumoniae is part of the normal flora in our airways and up to 50% of Singaporeans carry this bacteria without symptoms. In view of the high morbidity and the high carriage rate, it is still a health concern in Singapore.
Who needs to have Pneumococcal vaccine?
Those aged 65 years and above AND
Those aged 19 years or older with certain medical conditions:
1. Normal Adults with chronic medical conditions such as alcoholism, smoking, diabetes, chronic heart disease, chronic liver disease and chronic lung disease (asthma).
2. Normal Adults with ear implants
3. Those who had surgeries to remove their spleen (because these people have difficulty getting rid of pneumococcus from the blood.)
4. People with poor immune system such as those with chronic renal failure, leukaemia, HIV, people with organ transplants, cancer, on chemotherapy.
What are the types of vaccine available in Singapore?
There are 2 types of pneumococcal vaccines used to prevent severe infections (invasive pneumococcal disease) and pneumonia in Singapore. They are 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) and 13-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV13).
The 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine helps one to develop immunity against 23 different types of pneumococcus. PPSV23 is suitable for children 9 months and older.
The 13-valent conjugate vaccine helps one to develop immunity against 13 different types of pneumococcus. PCV 13 is suitable for children 2 years and older.
How effective are the vaccines?
The vaccines are 60-70% effective in preventing severe infections (invasive pneumococcal disease).
How are the vaccines given?
For adults 19 to 64 years old with poor immune system, previous spleen surgeries or ear implants and never had any previous dose of pneumococcal vaccine, a dose of PCV13 is given first followed by the first dose of PPSV23 after at least 8 weeks. A second dose of PPSV23 is given 5 years after the first dose of PPSV 23.
For adults 19 to 64 years old with chronic medical conditions, only one dose of PPSV 23 is given.
What are the common side effects of the vaccines?
Pain, redness and swelling over the injection site.
Fever, allergic rash, muscle and joint pains.
Who cannot take the vaccines?
People who have a serious allergy to previous vaccination dose.
Credits: Photo designed by PressFoto - Freepik
For more information, please refer to:
1) Clinical Practice Guidelines on Adult Vaccination in Singapore 2016
2) Official Bodhi Meditation Worldwide Centers
http://puti.org/en/worldwide-centers/
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