Katong Family Clinic would like to remind all seniors 65 and over to check that they have received pneumococcal vaccine. Many of you may not be aware that there are TWO types and you need to have both.
Pneumococcal disease is the leading vaccine-preventable cause of death in children and adults worldwide. It is a bacterial infection that causes pneumonia, meningitis, bacteraemia and other life-threatening illness. It can be prevented by vaccination. The recommendation from Singapore Ministry of Health and US CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunisation (ACIP) for vaccine naive patients are as follows: 1) For healthy adults aged 65 years and above: Prevenar 13 (dose 1), followed by Pneumovax 23 (dose 2) 1 year later 2) For high risk individuals aged 19 and older (with cerebro-spinal fluid leaks, cochlear implants, immuno-comprosing conditions): Prevenar 13 (dose 1), followed by Pneumovax 23 (dose 2) 8 weeks later For previously vaccinated Pneumovax23 (PPSV23) patients, please consult your doctor for relevant advice.
1 Comment
2/24/2018 07:39:58 pm
Thanks for the information. It's pretty alarming that the number of death because of Pneumococcal-related diseases became higher for the last quarter of 2017. Even the medical field was alarmed by this incident as no one saw it coming. That is why Pneumococcal vaccination was very timely; to prevent more possible casualties from this disease. I hope that the vaccine will work well, so that no more will be affected by this plague. By the way, thank you for all the tips you had written above.
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AuthorsDr Sarah Packer is a Family Physician with a special interest in women's and children's health. Archives
August 2018
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