Pneumococcal vaccination was included in vaccination schedule for some countries. The decision was made based on the prevalence of the disease and the mortality rate caused by it. I don't believe a country will allocate so much money if the vaccination is useless. However, happen to understand that, we also need to know that the vaccination itself does not protect the child 100% from the disease as pnemuoniae is a group of bacteria which consists of about 80 types of them. All of them can cause pneumonia in children. In the vaccination, it only covers 23 of them. In Malaysia, we have 2 types of pneumococcal vaccine available. Both cover <20 types. The more pricey once covers more than the other one...(forgot exactly how many but <20 types). It costs about Rm200-250 per jab. Baby less than 6 months need 4 jabs. More than 6 months only 2 jabs needed. I am planning to give my LO the jab at his 7th months old as there are no other vaccinations required at that time.

Other ppl who needed the pneumococcal vaccine are ppl >65 yrs old, ppl who had splenectomy done, ppl with low immune systems...they can repeat the jab every 5 yrs. Normal ppl doesn't need it as their immune system can protect them very well.

Parents should also know that all vaccination has the risk of getting complications. Although it is rare but it does happen.

Hope this pcs of info can help those who are still unsure if the pneumococcal vaccination is needed for their LO.

Just want to share a promotion for pneumococcal vaccination that my paed at Hospital Sungai Long is offering. So that can help parents save some $$$

Buy 3 free 1 for total of RM 570 or single jab at RM 190. http://hospitalsungailong.com/web/package/...ocal-promo.html

This is one of the cheaper ones I have come across after doing some survey.

Hi abubin,
I'm caught by interest by your statement above on our ancestors who turned out fine without vaccines. Would like to add... The lack of vaccines in the past was also one of the key reasons for higher childhood mortality rate compared to today... there were quite a number of kids during our grandparents' era who did not make it beyond infancy/childhood due to among others diphtheria, small pox. But I agree that human bodies do adapt for diseases over time just like how some bacteria evolve and become resistant to antibiotics.

I agree with sundaybabe's statement below. Small pox has been effectively erradicated due to successful vaccination programmes. So if the vaccinations are compulsory all babies will need to follow the schedule and be brought for vaccination.

As for the optional ones, it really depends on the parent's preference. If the parents can afford it and there is no harm done, I think we should give the best to our children and go for even those optional vaccinations. As they say, "prevention is better than cure".

In fact, the pneumococcoal vaccination is made compulsory in UK, US and Singapore. This means that this vaccination is quite important and should be given to babies, if parents can afford it.

This post has been edited by kl-lite: Feb 27 2013, 05:23 PM

any side effect after this Jab

i do mean
- fever
- etc

Hi guys..
Juz sharing some useful links on vaccination
http://www.cdc.gov/ u can get useful info from here. Official info on disease and vaccination recommendations for kid, adults and travellers. They do have info on safety issues on vaccines and diseases they covered.
take note that some of the recommendations given by CDC US is not part of MOH official recommendations. So there still exists a need to consult with your physicians.

For malaysia vaccination program (those compulsory) are under the jurisdiction of bahagian kawalan penyakit MOH..website u can ggoole..last time i check not so much info la..

http://apps.who.int/immunization_monitorin...eduleResult.cfm
Go here to read on who immunization program for malaysia.

have a nice read first , ask questions to your dr/pharmacists and then only decide.

my baby done already on this jab...
baby and kids is prone to pneumonia. my baby got penumonia when she was like 3-4 months old...after recover doc recommend this jab...

May I know which clinic is offering 3 jabs free 1?
Thank you.

To me, its important. It is because everybody theseday are given vaccine thats why the disease is under control....lets say everybody stop giving their newborns vaccine due to the possibilities of etc etc and etc and because of the new awareness of danger that vaccines can bring us.....there is going to be outbreaks of all these diseases all over again loo

My bb is 4mths old now. Can he take this jabs too?

my bb got pneumonia when she was around 6 months.... then doc recommend this jab...now she completed dy... its not cheap but i think my baby needs it...

Unfortunately, this programme has ended in May 2013.

Babies can start taking this vaccination starting from 2 months old.

Pneumococcal vaccination is very important to prevent serious brain infection, lung infection, ear infection and blood stream infection caused pneumococcus bacteria. It can be lethal or permanent brain infection which leads to mental disability. Please take the vaccination if possible. Noted, the fact that it is expensive in Malaysia. But the cost of hospital admission, duration of stay and permanent effects to your loved ones are more damaging to your pocket..
Dr Mervin

Thanks Dr Mervin! Appreciated your information.

vaccine doesnt guarantee 100% protection,vaccine only helps to greatly reduce the chance your baby catches the disease

well said..

i think M'sia gov provide most job coverage except pneumococcal & another 1. can't remember the name, cause its too expensive to cover for all.
any1 can confirm this?

From Wikipedia:

The vaccine is, however, primarily developed for the U.S. and European epidemiological situation, and therefore it has only a limited coverage of serotypes causing serious pneumococcal infections in most developing countries.[15]

Barocchi MA, Censini S, Rappuoli R (2007). "Vaccines in the era of genomics: the pneumococcal challenge"

Due to the geographic distribution of pneumococcal serotypes, additional research is needed to find the most efficacious vaccine for developing-world populations. In a previous study, the most common pneumococcal serotypes or groups from developed countries were found to be, in descending order, 14, 6, 19, 18, 9, 23, 7, 4, 1 and 15. In developing countries the order was 6, 14, 8, 5, 1, 19, 9, 23, 18, 15 and 7.[13]

Sniadack DH, Schwartz B, Lipman H, Bogaerts J, Butler JC, Dagan R, Echaniz-Aviles G, Lloyd-Evans N, Fenoll A (June 1995). "Potential interventions for the prevention of childhood pneumonia: geographic and temporal differences in serotype and serogroup distribution of sterile site pneumococcal isolates from children--implications for vaccine strategies". PediatrMy Webpage Infect Dis J 14 (6): 503–10. doi:10.1097/00006454-199506000-00007. PMID 7667055

do adults need this vaccine??