Do you know what the pneumococcal vaccine protects you against?
Who and at what age should you receive this vaccination. Find out more in this video!
Support us by donating on patreon : / fitivate
Sg Dr Wellness podcast: open.spotify.com/show/2Cu1yTR...
Free home based workout for all - fitivate.com/fitness/
Fitivate KZfaq channel: / fitivate
Fitivate e-shop for wellness product - 10% off first time buyers ( SINGAPORE AUDIENCE ONLY ) fitivate.com/shop/
Visit our health and wellness website: fitivate.com and facebook @feelfitivated
Visit our clinic website: www.vitacare-clinic.com
and our facebook @vitacarefamily
Pneumococcal vaccine can protect against pneumococcal disease. It is caused by a bacteria known as Streptococcus pneumonia. There are more than 90 serotypes of this bacterium.
This bacteria can spread from person to person by
- direct contact
- respiratory droplets from an infected person through coughing or sneezing
- articles or surfaces contaminated with the infected droplets
Now why protect against it? Because pneumonia can attack many different parts of the body and cause serious infections in the
- lung , causing lung infection
- in the sinuses - causing sinusitis
- the middle ear, causing otitis media
- the brain, causing meningitis
- and it can also invade the blood, resulting in the pneumococcal bacteria spreading rapidly throughout the whole body via the blood stream, causing a potentially fatal infection known as septicaemia.
Just for your information, Pneumonia is the 3rd top cause of death in Singapore in 2020. Now, vaccination is generally the safest and most effective way to protect young children, older adults and people with specific medical condition and I will share more about them now.
There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines available in singapore.
1) Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13 otherwise known as PCV13 -
the brand available in singapore is called Prevnar13
2) Pneumococcal polysaccharide Vaccine 23 , PPSV23 -
the brand available in singapore is called Pneumovax23 (. Insert pneumovax 23.jpg )
Both of these vaccines are inactivated vaccines - meaning they do not contain any live organisms.
It is highly recommended that babies, adults over the age of 65 and children and adults with certain long term health conditions such as diabetes, diseases of the heart, lungs, liver and kidney as well as immunocompromised patients receive these vaccinations.
In singapore, the Prevnar 13 is already in our national childhood immunisation schedule. Babies should receive 3 doses at the age of 4 months, 6 months and 12 months.
Elderlies above the age of 65 should get one dose of Prevnar 13 followed by one dose of pneumovax23 one year apart for lifelong protection.
Now then, how well do these vaccines work? Studies have shown that getting at least 1 shot of PCV13 can protect
- at least 8 in 10 babies from serious infections and
- 3 in 4 adults 65 years or older against serious infections
Meaning they are about 75-80% effective.
Side effects to the vaccinations are mostly mild, they include
- allergic reactions
- reactions where the shot was given, like redness, swelling and pain
- fever
- irritability in children
- flu like reaction like lethargy, headache, body ache
But These side effects usually goes away within 2 days.
Now, pneumococcal vaccinations is now heavily subsidised or even free in
Singapore! For all newborn, the prevnar13 vaccinations at 4,6 and 12 months is free at all polyclinics and all CHAS family clinics. For all eligible adults older than 65 or eligible young adults with certain chronic medical conditions, it is heavily subsidised in polyclinics and CHAS family clinics. You may even wish to utilise your Medisave to pay. For the vaccines.
00:00 Intro
00:43 Why you should get the pneumococcal vaccine
01:59 Types of pneumococcal vaccine
02:28 Who should get it?
03:06 How effective is it?
03:26 Side effects
#pneumococcaldiesease #pneumococcalvaccine #SgDrWellness #Vitacarefamily #Fitivate #CSKaesthetics #DrChenYiming #Singaporedoctor #KZfaq #Singaporeclinic #Familymedicine #Healthiswealth #preventionisbetterthancure #Singapore