Prevnar (Pneumococcal 7-valent Conjugate) Drug Overview and Uses for Patients and Caregivers at RxList

Pill Identifier Search

May 27, 2012

Prevnar

Children's Health »

Introduction

Children's health, or pediatrics, focuses on the well-being of children from conception through adolescence. It is vitally concerned with all aspects of children's growth and development and with the unique opportunity that each child has to achieve their full potential as a healthy adult.

Children's health was once a part of adult medicine. It emerged in the 19th and early 20th century as a medical specialty because of the gradual awareness that the health problems of children are different from those of grown-ups. It was also recognized that a child's response to illness, medications, and the environment depends upon the age of the child.

There are many aspects to children's health. Any organization of these aspects of child health is necessarily arbitrary. For example, the topics could be presented in alphabetical order. However, it seems most logical to start at the beginning -- with the factors that d...

Read the Children's Health article »

« Previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Next »

Prevnar User Reviews >>

Prevnar

Travel Health and Vaccines Slideshow Pictures

font size

Prevnar Consumer

IMPORTANT: HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION: This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.

PNEUMOCOCCAL PEDIATRIC VACCINE - INJECTION

(NEU-mo-KOK-al pee-dee-AT-rik)

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Prevnar

USES: This vaccine helps protect young children (e.g., infants and toddlers) against serious infections (e.g., meningitis, pneumonia, chronic ear infections) due to certain bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae).

Different brands of pneumococcal vaccine have different recommendations for use based on the age of the child.

Another form of this vaccine should be used if the child is older than 2 years and has certain medical conditions (heart disease, lung disease, liver disease, diabetes, spleen problems, sickle cell anemia, HIV infection). Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

HOW TO USE: Read the Vaccine Information Statement available from your health care provider before receiving the vaccine. If you have any questions, consult your health care provider.

This vaccine is injected into a muscle by a health care professional. It is usually injected into the thigh in infants or into either the upper arm or the thigh in toddlers.

The child may receive up to 4 injections. The number of injections that are given depends on the age of the child.

If the child is receiving this vaccination before spleen surgery or before receiving cancer chemotherapy or other drugs that decrease the immune system function, it should be given at least 2 weeks before these procedures to be effective. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more information.