PCV13 Vaccine (Given at Two Months)

The pneumococcal vaccine protects your child from the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can cause serious infections. Pneumococcal bacteria, which are typically found in the nose and throat, can be spread from person to person, causing ear infections, pneumonia (lung infection), meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord), and bacteremia (an infection of the blood). Children under the age of two are the most vulnerable to severe forms of the disease.

The pneumococcal vaccine regimen recommends injections at 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months of age. The pneumococcal vaccine is safe to provide in conjunction with other immunizations. Children who did not receive the vaccination before the age of two can still be immunized. And children aged 2 to 5 who have not yet been immunized and fall into one of the following high-risk groups should absolutely get it:

• Children who go to daycare
• Children with chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and sickle cell disease
  
• Children who have HIV/AIDS or other immune-suppressive disorders
• Children of Alaskan Native, American Indian, and African American ancestry