RACGP College news
Recent changes to pneumococcal vaccine for children
30 June 2011
From 1 July 2011, Prevenar 13® (a13-valent conjugate vaccine) will replace Prevenar 7® (a 7-valent conjugate vaccine) on the National Immunisation Program in all states and territories except the Northern Territory. Northern Territory will continue to use Synflorix®.
Prevenar 13® provides protection against an additional six serotypes, which can cause Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD), that are not covered by Prevenar 7®. This includes disease associated with the increasingly predominant serotype 19A.
Who is eligible to receive free pneumococcal conjugate vaccine?
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (Prevenar 13®) will be provided to children at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. A fourth dose may also be provided to medically at risk children at 12 months of age.
Medically at risk children should also receive a dose of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax 23®) between 4 and 5 years of age.
For more information, visit www.immunise.health.gov.au.
Commonwealth provider guidelines for Prevenar 13 are available at http://immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/4F22B5FB0B270E64CA2578C0000B191F/$File/pneumococca-guidelines-V3.pdf