The
pneumonia vaccine (
Pneumovax® and
Prevnar®) may not be suitable for everyone. Before receiving this product, be sure to discuss the
pneumonia vaccine's safety issues with your healthcare provider. Also, tell him or her about the medications you take and any medical conditions you have, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, a bleeding disorder, or any
allergies.
You should not receive the pneumonia vaccine if you have ever had a serious reaction to the vaccine or to any component of it before.
The pneumonia vaccine is safe for most people; however, as with any medication, side effects are a possibility. Common side effects seen with Prevnar include irritability, drowsiness, and fever. Injection site reactions (such as pain or swelling) are common reactions to Pneumovax.
Neither Pneumovax nor Prevnar contains thimerosal (a mercury-containing preservative). People who are concerned about exposure to this substance can be confident that these vaccines have no thimerosal -- not even trace amounts.
