As with any vaccine, side effects are possible with the pneumonia shot (Pneumovax®, Prevnar 13®). However, not everyone who receives the vaccine will experience problems -- in fact, many people tolerate it well. If negative reactions do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can be treated easily.
The most common side effects of Pneumovax include:
A low-grade fever
Injection site reactions, such as pain, redness, or swelling.
Some of the most common side effects seen with Prevnar 13 in children include:
Irritability
Sleeping more than usual
Tenderness at the injection site.
Wheezing, unexplained rash, and high fever are some of the potentially dangerous side effects of the pneumonia shot. These serious reactions are not common, but they should be reported to your healthcare provider immediately if they occur.
(Click Pneumonia Vaccine Side Effects for a closer look at side effects reported with the pneumonia shot. This article sheds more light on the clinical trials studying Prevnar and Pneumovax, explaining why it's hard to know if certain reactions are due to the shot or something else.)
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