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Pneumovax
Encephalitis and meningitis facts
- Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain.
- Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes (called meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord.
- Anyone experiencing symptoms of encephalitis or meningitis should see a doctor immediately.
What is encephalitis?
Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain. There are many types of encephalitis, most of which are caused by infections. Most often these infections are caused by viruses. In addition to infections, encephalitis can also be caused by certain diseases that result in an inflammation of the brain.
What are encephalitis symptoms and signs?
The signs and symptoms of encephalitis can range from very mild symptoms to potentially life-threatening. Signs and symptoms of encephalitis include sudden fever, headache, vomiting, visual sensitivity to light, stiff neck an...
Pneumovax
PNEUMOVAX®23
(pneumococcal) Vaccine Polyvalent
DRUG DESCRIPTION
PNEUMOVAX 23 (Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent) is a sterile, liquid vaccine for intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. It consists of a mixture of highly purified capsular polysaccharides from the 23 most prevalent or invasive pneumococcal types of Streptococcus pneumonias, including the six serotypes that most frequently cause invasive drug-resistant pneumococcal infections among children and adults in the United States.1 (See Table 1.) The 23-valent vaccine accounts for at least 90% of pneumococcal blood isolates and at least 85% of all pneumococcal isolates from sites which are generally sterile as determined by ongoing surveillance of U.S. data.2
PNEUMOVAX (pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent) 23 is manufactured according to methods developed by the Merck Research Laboratories. Each 0.5 ml dose of vaccine contains 25 (ig of each polysaccharide type in isotonic saline solution containing 0.25% phenol as a preservative.
Table 1: 23 Pneumococcal Capsular Types Included in PNEUMOVAX (pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent)
23
| Nomenclature | Pneumococcal Types | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Danish | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6B** | 7F | 8 | 9N | 9V** | 10A | 11A | 12F | 14** | 15B | 17F | 18C | 19F** | 19A** | 20 | 22F | 23F** | 33F |
| ** These serotypes most frequently cause drug-resistant pneumococcal infections1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
What are the possible side effects of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax 23, Pnu-Imune 23)?
Getting pneumococcal disease is much riskier than getting pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.
Seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if any of the following rare but serious side effects from pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine are experienced:
- a...
Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Pneumovax »
What are the precautions when taking pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent (Pneumovax)?
Before receiving this vaccine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as the preservative phenol, latex or dry natural rubber in the vial stopper), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: your vaccination/immunization history, recent illness/fever.
This vaccine is not recommended for use in children younger than 2 years.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk....
REFERENCES
What are the possible side effects of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax 23, Pnu-Imune 23)?
Getting pneumococcal disease is much riskier than getting pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.
Seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if any of the following rare but serious side effects from pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine are experienced:
- a...
Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Pneumovax »
What are the precautions when taking pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent (Pneumovax)?
Before receiving this vaccine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as the preservative phenol, latex or dry natural rubber in the vial stopper), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: your vaccination/immunization history, recent illness/fever.
This vaccine is not recommended for use in children younger than 2 years.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk....
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of Pneumococcal Disease. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 1997; 46 (No. RR-8): 1-25. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr4608.pdf
What are the possible side effects of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax 23, Pnu-Imune 23)?
Getting pneumococcal disease is much riskier than getting pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.
Seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if any of the following rare but serious side effects from pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine are experienced:
- a...
Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Pneumovax »
What are the precautions when taking pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent (Pneumovax)?
Before receiving this vaccine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as the preservative phenol, latex or dry natural rubber in the vial stopper), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: your vaccination/immunization history, recent illness/fever.
This vaccine is not recommended for use in children younger than 2 years.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk....
2. Robbins, J.B.; Lee, C.J.; Schiffman, G.; Austrian, R.; Henrichsen, J.; Makela, P.M.; Broome, C.V.; Facklam, R.R.; Tiesjema, R.H.; Rastogi, S.C.: Considerations for formulating the second-generation pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide vaccine with emphasis on the cross-reactive types within groups, J. Infect. Dis. 148:1136-1159,1983.
What are the possible side effects of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax 23, Pnu-Imune 23)?
Getting pneumococcal disease is much riskier than getting pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.
Seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if any of the following rare but serious side effects from pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine are experienced:
- a...
Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Pneumovax »
What are the precautions when taking pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent (Pneumovax)?
Before receiving this vaccine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as the preservative phenol, latex or dry natural rubber in the vial stopper), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: your vaccination/immunization history, recent illness/fever.
This vaccine is not recommended for use in children younger than 2 years.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk....
Last reviewed on RxList: 12/7/2010
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.
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