WHAT PREVENAR 13 IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR?
Prevenar 13 is a pneumococcal vaccine given to:
- children from 6 weeks to 17 years to help protect against diseases such as: meningitis (inflammation around the brain), sepsis or bacteraemia (bacteria in the blood stream), pneumonia (lung infection) and ear infections
- adults aged 18 years and older to help prevent disease such as: pneumonia (lung infection), sepsis or bacteraemia (bacteria in the blood stream) and meningitis (inflammation around the brain), caused by 13 types of the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Prevenar 13, provides protection against 13 types of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, and replaces Prevenar, which provided protection against 7 types.
The vaccine works by helping the body to make its own antibodies, which protect you or your child against these diseases.