PCV vaccine or pneumococcal conjugate vaccine aims to prevent infections caused by pneumococcal bacteria. These bacteria can cause diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, and blood infections (bacteremia).
Unlike other mandatory vaccines, this type is optional. So the decision is up to the parents, whether to give their child these vaccine or not.
However, it is important for parents to know that pneumococcal bacterial infection is more common in children under 5 years of age. Therefore, children are strongly advised to receive these pneumonia vaccine.
Then when should children be given the PCV Vaccine?
To all parents, knowing the vaccination schedule is important. This kind of immunization is given before the child is one year old. However, if the child is more than one year old it is not too late to be given this immunization.
Here are some of the schedule of PCV vaccine:
- For infants, the vaccine is given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. Provision will be repeated at 12-15 months of age.
- To children aged 7-12 months who have not received these immunization, can be given 2 times with the first and second PCV vaccine doses given a 2 month interval.
- If a child over 1 year of age still has not received the PCV vaccine, it will only be given once at 12-23 months of age. However, the vaccine may be done with within 2 months after the first one.
Because this type of vaccine is not mandatory, mothers need to spend more money because they are not subsidized by the government. That also makes the price is quite expensive.
Notes from DeveHealth:
Beside exclusive breastfeeding, immunization is also important for children. Several vaccines that are mandatory include hepatitis B, DPT, polio, and BCG immunization. Meanwhile, the PCV vaccine is included in the category of preferred. But, if the mothers wants to give it to their child, the vaccine can be obtained at certain hospitals or health clinics.
