Prevenar (Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 7-valent) Information

Prevenar

• A seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7)

Interval between doses

• Recommended 6 weeks
• Minimum of 4 weeks

Effectiveness

• Highly effective against vaccine serotype invasive disease in healthy children ¹
• Unlike the previous (polysaccharide) vaccine, it induces immunity in infants

Pneumococcus

(Steptococcus pnuemoniae)

• Lance shaped gram positive cocci in pairs
• Transmission from person to person by droplet contact

References

1. Whitney CG, Pilishvili T, Farley MM, Schaffner W, Lynfield R, et al. Effectiveness of seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against invasive pneumococcal disease: a matched case-control study. Lancet 2006; 368: 1495-502.
2. Immunisation Handbook 2006. Ministry of Health: Wellington