• Vaccine Name: Prevnar
• Target Pathogen: Streptococcus pneumoniae
• Target Disease: Pneumonia
• Product Name: Pneumococcal 7-valent Conjugate Vaccine (Diphtheria CRM197 Protein)
• Tradename: Prevnar
• Manufacturer: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Vaccine Ontology ID: VO_0000090
• CDC CVX code: 100
• Type: Conjugate vaccine
• Status: Licensed
• Location Licensed: USA (License #0003)
• Host Species for Licensed Use: Human
• Antigen: A sterile solution of saccharides of the capsular antigens of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F individually conjugated to diphtheria CRM197 protein (FDA: Prevnar).
• Preparation: Each serotype is grown in soy peptone broth. The individual polysaccharides are purified through centrifugation, precipitation, ultrafiltration, and column chromatography.
• Storage: DO NOT FREEZE. Store refrigerated at 2°C TO 8°C.
• Approved Age for Licensed Use: 2-15 months of age.
• Contraindication: Hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine, including diphtheria toxoid, is a contraindication to use of this vaccine.
• Description: In the USA, a heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine vaccine (PCV 7) (e.g. Prevnar) is recommended since 2000 for all children aged 2–23 months and for at-risk children aged 24–59 months. The normally 4-doses series is given at 2, 4, 6 & 12–14 months of age. Protection is good against deep pneumococcal infections (especially septicemia and meningitis) (Wiki: S. pneumoniae).

Human Response

• Vaccination Protocol: Efficacy was assessed in a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial in a multiethnic population at Northern California Kaiser Permanente (NCKP) from October 1995 through August 20, 1998, in which 37,816 infants were randomized to receive either Prevnar or a control vaccine at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months of age (FDA: Prevnar).
• Immune Response: There were no reports of streptococcus pneumoniae in the group vaccinated with PREVNAR whereas in the control group, there were between 17-22 cases reported after vaccination (FDA: Prevnar).
• Side Effects: Side effects of vaccination include: fever, irratibility, drowsiness, decreased appetite, rash and soreness/redness of the injection site.