Whats the difference between Pneumovax and Prevenar?

[spinach]

My dd2 is nine weeks and is getting the usual baby jabs. But, my older daughter is astmatic and prone to chest infections so i would like her vaccinated too... What can she have and whats the difference? My GP surgery seems to think she can have prevenar but not Pneumovax Is that right? Also, why is this? is it simply a licensing thing that may change? cos the prevenar isnt as broad is it?
Help, I know nothing!!!

Prevenar is for under 2s. Pneumovax is for over 2s. Pneumovax is a 'better' vaccine because it theoretically covers more 'strains' of pneumoncoccal (23strains for pneumovax v 7 for prevenar IIRC) - but the under 2s don't develop immunity to it so they have to have prevenar.

I should qualify I think 2 is the cut-off between the 2 vaccines - just off to check for you

i got a letter today inviting dd (18 months) for her prevenar jab. is it worth waiting 'til she's 2 & then she can have pneumovax?

The NHS website is actually confusing.

In one paragraph it says pneumovax can be used from 2 years.

A bit further down it says prevenar is recommended up to 5 years.

So whatever your GP has said is probably correct.

If she is close to 2 I would probably request prevenar just in case her immune system doesn't mount a proper response to pneumovax. If she is older I would request pneumovax because of the better coverage.

HTH

They don't routinely vaccinate those over 2 hoxton chick - so I would take the prevenar while you can. Plus she is at higher risk for catching the disease now than she will be in 6 months.

Take the prevenar now.

Pnuemovax isn't routinely given as SlightlyMad says.

That said if your older dd's asthma is quite bad spinach you could probably make a case for it. Does she have the flu jab?

Pnuemovax isn't routinely given as SlightlyMad says.

That said if your older dd's asthma is quite bad spinach you could probably make a case for it. Does she have the flu jab?

thank you sms .

yes she does have flu jab... i'm still confused... dd1 is 3 so should be able to get the Pneumovax then?

You would have to speak to GP as to whether they will give her anything as it would not be offered routinely - but may be as a result of her asthma.

NHS website says that pneumovax is suitable from 2 years - BUT it also says that prevenar is used until 5 years old - so that doesn't make sense.

I don't think it really matters too much which she has as she will be lower risk for contracting pneumoccal at 3yrs anyway (although appreciate that there is still a risk etc...)

I suppose it depends on what jabs your dd has already had. In the case of my youngest ds, he has already had 2 doses of prevenar, one at 15 months, the other at 18 months, before they were given as routine or part of the catch up programme (high risk). He is now 2.5 and I have been trying to get him a pneumovax jab, but my gp is saying that prevenar should give him life long immunity, but like sms says, it is only for the 7 strains (7 most common strains for the under 2's) and not the 23 strain varient. We are seeing the paed on monday and I plan on asking for his pnuemovax to be arranged through them or for him to fax the surgery telling them to allow ds to have the jab. He may actually suggest that ds have the 3rd prevenar jab first though I guess.

HM2J - I am no expert but I believe that the pneumovax can act as a booster for prevenar. At least on one site it says to give under 2s prevenar and then if they are over 2 when it is time for there routine booster - use pneumovax.

dd1 hasnt had any of the vaccines before... so i think I'm asking for the Pneumovax then as she's over two....

My niece was 3 when her cousin died of pneumoccocal meningitis,we all obviously went straight to our Gps for prevenar.
She had to have 2 doses of prevenar and then a pneumovax.
My SIL was told she needed the Prevenar first to boost her immunity before having the Pneumovax.

If you are being offered one of these jabs, take it. HTH.

Also hope this makes sense!