Patient leaflet - Prevenar 13 suspension for injection in a Pre-filled syringe 0.5 ml
1. What Prevenar 13 is and what it is used for
Prevenar 13 is a pneumococcal vaccine given to:
children from 6 weeks to 17 years to help protect against
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diseases such as: meningitis (inflammation around the brain), sepsis or bacteraemia (bacteria in the blood stream), pneumonia (lung infection) and ear infections
- adults aged 18 years and older to help prevent disease such as: pneumonia (lung infection), sepsis or bacteraemia (bacteria in the blood stream) and meningitis (inflammation around the brain),
caused by 13 types of the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Prevenar 13, provides protection against 13 types of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, and replaces Prevenar, which provided protection against 7 types.
The vaccine works by helping the body to make its own antibodies, which protect you or your child against these diseases.
2. What you need to know before you or your child receives Prevenar 13
Prevenar 13 should not be given if you or your child is allergic (hypersensitive) to the active substances or to any of the other ingredients in this medicine (listed in section 6) or to any other vaccine that contains diphtheria toxoid.
if you or your child has a severe infection with a high temperature (over 38°C). If this applies to you or your child, then the vaccination will be postponed until you or your child is feeling better. A minor infection, such as a cold, should not be a problem. However, talk to your doctor,
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pharmacist, or nurse first.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before the vaccination f you or your child:
has any present or past medical problems after any dose of Prevenar or Prevenar 13 such as an allergic reaction or problems with breathing.
has any bleeding problems or bruises easily. has a weakened immune system (such as due to HIV infection), you/she/he may not get the full benefit from Prevenar 13.
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has experienced seizures as medicines to lower fever may need to be taken before Prevenar 13 is given. If your child should become unresponsive or experience seizures (fits) after the vaccination, please contact your doctor immediately. See also section 4.
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before the vaccination f your child was born very prematurely (at or before 28 weeks of gestation), as longer gaps than normal between breaths may occur for 2-3 days after vaccination. See also section 4.
As with any vaccine, Prevenar 13 will not protect all persons who are vaccinated.
Prevenar 13 will only protect against ear infections in children caused by the types of Streptococcus pneumoniae for which he vaccine has been developed. It will not protect against other infectious agents that can cause ear infections.
Other medicines/vaccines and Prevenar 13
Your doctor may ask you to give your child paracetamol or other medicines that lower fever before Prevenar 13 is given. This will help to lower some of the side effects of Prevenar 13.
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Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you or your child is aking, has recently taken or might take any other medicines, or has recently received any other vaccine.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding f you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before receiving this medicine.
Driving and using machines
Prevenar 13 has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. However, some of the effects
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I mentioned under section 4 “Possible side effects” may emporarily affect the ability to drive or use machines.
Prevenar 13 contains polysorbate 80
This medicinal product contains 0.1 mg of polysorbate 80 per dose. Polysorbates may cause allergic reactions. Tell your doctor if you or your child has any known allergies.
Prevenar 13 contains sodium
This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium 23 mg) per dose, i.e. essentially ‘sodium-free’.
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3. How Prevenar 13 is given
The doctor or nurse will inject the recommended dose (0.5 ml) of the vaccine into your arm or your child’s arm or leg muscle. Infants aged 6 weeks to 6 months of age
Typically, your child should receive an initial course of three injections of the vaccine followed by a booster dose. • The first injection may be given from the age of six weeks. • Each injection will be given at least one month apart.
A fourth injection (booster) will be given between
11 and 15 months of age.
- You will be told when your child should come back for the next injection.
According to official recommendations in your country, an alternative schedule may be used by your healthcare provider. Please speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse for more information.
Premature infants
Your child will receive an initial course of three injections. The first injection may be given as early as six weeks of age with at least one month between doses. Between 11 and 15 months of age, your child will receive a fourth injection (booster). Unvaccinated infants, children, and adolescents over 7 months of age
Infants aged 7 to 11 months should receive two injections. Each injection will be given at least one month apart. A third injection will be given in the second year of life. Children aged 12 to 23 months should receive two injections. Each injection will be given at least two months apart. Children aged 2 to 17 years should receive one injection.
Infants, children, and adolescents previously vaccinated with Prevenar
Infants and children who have previously received Prevenar may receive Prevenar 13 to complete the course of injections.
For children 1 to 5 years of age previously vaccinated with
Prevenar, your doctor or nurse will recommend how many injections of Prevenar 13 are required.
Children and adolescents 6 to 17 years of age should receive one injection.
It is important to follow the instructions from the doctor, pharmacist, or nurse so that your child completes the course of injections.
If you forget to go back at the scheduled time, ask the doctor, pharmacist, or nurse for advice.
Adults
Adults should receive one injection.
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you have been given a pneumococcal vaccine before.
If you have any further questions on the use of Prevenar 13, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
Special Populations
Individuals considered to be at a higher risk of pneumococcal infection (such as those with sickle cell disease or HIV infection), including those previously vaccinated with the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, may receive at least one dose of Prevenar 13.
Individuals with a blood-forming stem cell transplant may receive three injections, with the first given at 3 to 6 months after the transplant and with an interval of at least 1 month between doses. A fourth injection (booster) is recommended
6 months after the third injection.
4. Possible side effects
Like all vaccines, Prevenar 13 can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following side effects include those reported for Prevenar 13 in infants and children (6 weeks to 5 years of age):
The most common side effects (these may occur with more than 1 in 10 doses of the vaccine) are:
- Decreased appetite
Fever; irritability; pain, tenderness, redness, swelling or hardness at the vaccination-site; drowsiness; restless sleep • Redness, hardness, swelling at the vaccination-site of
2.5 cm -7.0 cm (after the booster dose and in older children [aged 2 to 5 years])
Prevenar 13 suspension for injection pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine
(13 valent, adsorbed)
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Common side effects (these may occur with up to 1 in 10 doses of the vaccine) are:
- Vomiting; diarrhoea
- Fever of more than 39°C; tenderness at the vaccination-site interfering with movement, redness, hardness, swelling at the vaccination-site of 2.5 cm -7.0 cm (after the initial course of injections)
- Rash
Uncommon side effects (these may occur with up to 1 in 100 doses of the vaccine) are:
Seizures (or fits), including those caused by a high
temperature
- Hives (urticaria or urticaria-like rash)
- Redness, swelling, or hardness at the vaccination-site of more than 7 cm; crying
Rare side effects (these may occur with up to 1 in 1,000 doses of the vaccine) are:
- Collapse or shock-like state (hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode)
Allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction, including swelling of the face and/or lips, difficulty in breathing
The following side effects include those reported for Prevenar 13 in children and adolescents (6 to 17 years of age):
The most common side effects (these may occur with more than 1 in 10 doses of the vaccine) are:
- Decreased appetite
- Irritability; pain, tenderness, redness, swelling or hardness at the vaccination-site; drowsiness; restless sleep; tenderness at the vaccination-site interfering with movement
Common side effects (these may occur with up to 1 in 10 doses of the vaccine) are:
- Headaches
- Vomiting; diarrhoea
- Rash; hives (urticaria or urticaria-like rash) • Fever
Children and adolescents with either HIV infection, sickle cell disease or a blood-forming stem cell transplant had similar side effects however the frequencies of headaches, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, fatigue, joint and muscle pain were very common.
In babies born very prematurely (at or before 28 weeks of gestation), longer gaps than normal between breaths may occur for 2-3 days after vaccination.
The following side effects include those reported for Prevenar 13 in adults:
The most common side effects (these may occur with more than 1 in 10 doses of the vaccine) are:
Decreased appetite; headaches; diarrhoea; vomiting
(for those 18 to 49 years of age)
- Chills; tiredness; rash; pain, redness, swelling hardness or tenderness at the vaccination-site, interfering with arm movement (severe pain or tenderness at vaccination-site for those 18-39 years of age and severe limitation of arm movements for those 18 to 39 years of age)
- Worsening or new pain in your joints, worsening or new pain in your muscles
- Fever (for those 18 to 29 years of age)
Common side effects (these may occur with up to 1 in 10 doses of the vaccine) are:
Vomiting (for those 50 years and older); fever (for those
30 years and older)
Uncommon side effects (these may occur with up to 1 in 100 doses of the vaccine) are:
- Nausea
- Allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction, including swelling of the face and/or lips, difficulty in breathing
- Enlarged lymph nodes or glands (lymphadenopathy) near the vaccination-site, such as under the arm
Adults with HIV infection had similar side effects however the frequencies were very common for fever, vomiting and common for nausea.
Adults with a blood-forming stem cell transplant had similar side effects however the frequencies were very common for fever and vomiting.
The following additional side effects have been seen with Prevenar 13 in postmarketing experience
- Severe allergic reaction including shock (cardiovascular collapse); angioedema (swelling of lips, face or throat)
- Hives (urticaria), redness and irritation (dermatitis) and itching (pruritus) at the vaccination-site; flushing
- Enlarged lymph nodes or glands (lymphadenopathy) near the vaccination-site, such as under the arm or in the groin • A rash causing itchy red blotches (erythema multiforme)
Reporting of side effects f you or your child get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly
I via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more nformation on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Prevenar 13
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Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on he carton and label after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Store in a refrigerator (2°C–8°C).
Do not freeze.
Prevenar 13 is stable at temperatures up to 25°C for four days. At the end of this period Prevenar 13 should be used or discarded. These data are intended to guide health care professionals in case of temporary temperature excursions. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Prevenar 13 contains
The active substances are polysaccharide CRM197 conjugates consisting of:
2.2 µg of polysaccharide for serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 7F,
9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F
- 4.4 µg of polysaccharide for serotype 6B
1 dose (0.5 ml) contains approximately 32 µg CRM197 carrier protein, adsorbed on aluminium phosphate (0.125 mg aluminium).
The other ingredients are sodium chloride, succinic acid, polysorbate 80 and water for injections.
What Prevenar 13 looks like and contents of the pack
The vaccine is a white suspension for injection, provided in a single-dose, pre-filled syringe (0.5 ml). Pack sizes of 1, 10 and 50, with or without needle. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Pfizer Limited
Ramsgate Road
Sandwich, Kent
CT13 9NJ
United Kingdom
Manufacturer responsible for batch release:
Pfizer Manufacturing
Belgium NV
Rijksweg 12
2870 Puurs-Sint-Amands Belgium
For any information about this medicine, please contact: Medical Information, Pfizer Ltd, Walton Oaks, Dorking Road,
Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 7NS.
Telephone 01304 616161.
This leaflet was last revised in 05/2025
PN 25_0
The following information is intended for healthcare professionals only:
During storage, a white deposit and clear supernatant may be observed. This does not constitute a sign of deterioration.
Inspect visually for any foreign particulate matter and/or abnormal physical appearance; do not use if either are found.
Prior to expelling air from the syringe, shake well to obtain a homogeneous white suspension.
Administer the entire dose.
Prevenar 13 is for intramuscular use only. Do not administer intravascularly.
Prevenar 13 must not be mixed with any other vaccines in the same syringe.
Prevenar 13 can be given at the same time as other childhood vaccines; in this case, different vaccination sites should be used.
Prevenar 13 may be given to adults aged 50 years and older at the same time as the trivalent or quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine.
Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
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