Pneumococcal vaccine for babies - About the pneumococcal vaccine for babies

Routine pneumococcal vaccination for babies 

Your baby will be offered the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13 (PCV13) at 16 weeks and 12 months of age. You can learn more about this vaccine by reading the patient information leaflet online.

Babies under two at higher risk from pneumococcal disease 

If your baby is at higher risk, they may need extra pneumococcal vaccines. They will be offered either the PCV13 or PCV20 (when available). Your baby will be given the vaccine available at the time you attend the appointment. Their specialist doctor or nurse will also let you know if your baby needs more doses.

You can learn more about PCV13 and PCV20 by reading the patient leaflets.

Babies are sent an appointment for their routine pneumococcal vaccine at the right age. Most GP surgeries and health centres run special vaccination or baby clinics.

If your baby is at higher risk from pneumococcal disease, your GP surgery should get in touch with you to make an appointment when your baby is eligible. If they don’t, or you think you might have missed the invitation, contact your GP or specialist.

You should cancel an appointment if you cannot make it. If you do miss the appointment or have to delay the vaccination, make a new appointment as soon as possible.

Remember, it’s important to contact your GP surgery to catch up on any missed vaccinations! 

Babies are routinely offered the pneumococcal vaccine at:

• 16 weeks old, and
• 12 months old.

For more information about when the first (16-week) dose is offered, go to Changes to the routine childhood immunisation schedule.

If your child has missed any doses, speak to your GP or practice nurse for advice. 

Some babies under two years old may need extra pneumococcal vaccines. For example, those with:

• A missing spleen or a spleen that does not work properly
• A condition called complement disorder
• A very weak immune system

If you are not sure whether your child needs these extra vaccines, speak to their specialist doctor or nurse.

People aged 65 and over and those aged two and over with certain health conditions should also have a pneumococcal vaccine. This is because their age or health condition puts them at risk of different types of pneumococcal infection.

Find out more about the pneumococcal vaccine for older adults and people at risk.

Yes, the pneumococcal vaccine is safe. It meets all safety standards. Once a vaccine is in use, its safety is closely monitored. Millions of doses of the vaccine have been given and it has a very good safety record.

Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects, but not everyone gets them. Most side effects are mild and may last a day or two.

The most common side effects in babies and children include:

• Fever
• Soreness, redness, hardness or swelling where the injection was given
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• A change in eating habits
• Irritability
• Sleepiness or restless sleep

For all side effects and for more information about the vaccine, please see the patient information leaflet:

• Prevenar 13 suspension for injection 
• Prevenar 20 suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe

If your child has a raised temperature and seems unwell after having the vaccine, you can give them paracetamol liquid. Read the instructions on the bottle carefully and give your child the correct strength and dose for their age.

Rarely, people can have a severe reaction soon after vaccination, which causes breathing difficulties and may cause them to collapse. This is called an anaphylactic reaction, and it can also happen with other medicines and food. These reactions are extremely rare, affecting less than one in a million people. Staff who give vaccinations are trained to manage these reactions.

People who have an anaphylactic reaction can be successfully treated and usually recover within a few hours.

If you have any questions or concerns about side effects, you can ask the person giving your baby the vaccine, visit NHS 111 Wales or contact NHS 111 Wales by calling 111.

You should report suspected side effects of vaccines and medicines through the Yellow Card scheme. You can do this online at Yellow Card or by calling the Yellow Card scheme hotline on 0800 731 6789 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent pneumococcal infections. No vaccine is 100% effective, so it is still important to know the signs and symptoms of pneumococcal infections, even if you or your child have had the vaccine.

For more information about severe illnesses caused by pneumococcal infection visit the NHS 111 Wales website:

• Meningitis
• Sepsis
• Pneumonia

There are very few reasons why children cannot be vaccinated.

Allergies  

Most people with allergies can have the vaccine with no problems.

The vaccine should not be given to anyone who has had a serious (life-threatening) reaction to:

• a previous dose of the vaccine, or
• any ingredient in the vaccine.

Speak to the person giving your baby the vaccine if your baby has had a serious allergic reaction to the vaccine or ingredients in the past.

If your child:

• has a bleeding disorder (for example haemophilia, where their blood does not clot properly)
• has had a fit not caused by a fever, or
• has a problem with their immune system

speak to your doctor, practice nurse or health visitor before your child has any vaccination.