Prevenar 13 is used in the UK routine childhood immunisation programme in line with Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommendations and the Green Book.^2,3

The current pneumococcal routine infant schedule uses a 1+1 dosing schedule:

• First dose: 16 weeks of age
• Second dose: 1 year of age (on or after the first birthday)^2,3

The UK transitioned from a 2 +1 to a 1+ 1 pneumococcal conjugate vaccine schedule in 2020, based on evidence of sustained direct and indirect (herd) protection and low circulation of PCV13 serotypes.³

Prevenar 13 (PCV13) is a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine covering 13 serotypes and is used for active immunisation against pneumococcal disease, including systemic (invasive) infections.³

Pneumococcal disease refers to infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).³

Streptococcus pneumoniae commonly colonises the nasopharynx of healthy individuals and spreads through respiratory droplets or close contact with respiratory secretions. The incubation period may be as short as 1-3 days.³

Pneumococcal disease can be classified as non-invasive (such as otitis media or sinusitis) or invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), including bacteraemic pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis.³

Invasive pneumococcal disease particularly affects infants and young children, older adults, and individuals with impaired immunity or certain underlying medical conditions.³  
 

For full details of vaccine composition, serotypes, dosing, administration, contraindications, and precautions refer to the current UK Summary of Product Characteristics.¹

Although pneumococcal disease is now less common in UK infants than before the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, this reduction is primarily due to vaccination rather than elimination of pathogen.³

Pneumococcal bacteria continue to circulate within the population, and invasive disease still occurs across age groups, particularly in vulnerable individuals.⁴

Ongoing vaccination and surveillance remain important to sustain population protection.^3,4

Administration

• Prevenar 13 should be administered by intramuscular injection.
• In infants, the preferred injection site is the anterolateral aspect of the thigh (vastus lateralis muscle).
• Prevenar 13 should not be administered intravascularly.¹

• Prevenar 13 is supplied as a 0.5ml suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe.
• The pre-filled syringe is made of Type I glass, with
  • Latex-free chlorobutyl rubber plunger stopper, and
  • A latex-free isoprene bromobutyl rubber protective-tip cap.¹

• Shelf life: 3 years
• Store in a refrigerator (2 °C - 8 °C)
• Do not freeze.¹

• Prevenar 13 is stable at temperatures up to 25 °C for a maximum of 4 days.
• At the end of this period, the vaccine should be used or discarded.
• These data are intended to guide healthcare professionals in the event of temporary temperature excursions.¹

Prevenar 13 can be administered concomitantly with the following vaccine antigens, either as monovalent or combination vaccines:¹

• Diphtheria

• Tetanus

• Acellular or whole-cell pertussis

• Haemophilus influenzae type b

• Inactivated poliomyelitis

• Hepatitis B

• Meningococcal serogroup C

• Measles

• Mumps

• Rubella

• Varicella

• Rotavirus

Prevenar 13 can also be given concomitantly between 12-23 months of age with the tetanus toxoid-conjugated meningococcal polysaccharide serogroups A, C, W and Y vaccine, in children who have been adequately primed with Prevenar 13, in accordance with local recommendations.¹

Use of antipyretics

Data from a post‑marketing clinical study suggest that prophylactic administration of paracetamol, when given concomitantly with or on the same day as Prevenar 13 vaccination, may reduce the immune response to Prevenar 13 following the infant series.¹
Responses to the booster dose administered at 12 months were unaffected. ¹
The clinical significance of this observation is unknown.¹

Children with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease.³

In the UK, Prevenar 20 (20‑valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; PCV20) is recommended for children under 2 years of age with asplenia or splenic dysfunction, complement deficiency, or severe immunosuppression, in line with Green Book guidance and UKHSA programme advice.⁶

Prevenar 20 (pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine [20‑valent, adsorbed]) is indicated for the active immunisation for the prevention of pneumococcal disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in individuals from 6 weeks of age and older.⁷