Important Information About SAFETY & SIDE EFFECTS

If you have questions about PNEUMOVAX 23 after you read the information below, or would like more information, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Who should not get PNEUMOVAX 23?

You should not get this vaccine if you:

  • are allergic to any of its ingredients
  • had an allergic reaction to PNEUMOVAX 23 in the past
  • are less than 2 years old
Who Should Not Get PNEUMOVAX®23 (Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent)?
What Should I Tell My Health Care Provider Before Getting PNEUMOVAX®23 (Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent)?

What should I tell my health care provider before getting PNEUMOVAX 23?

Tell your health care provider if you:

  • are allergic to PNEUMOVAX 23
  • have heart or lung problems
  • have a fever
  • have immune problems or are receiving radiation treatment or chemotherapy
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding

How is PNEUMOVAX 23 given?

Most often, just one shot is given.

If you are in a high-risk group for pneumococcal infection, then your health care provider will decide if it would be helpful to give a second shot of PNEUMOVAX 23 at a later time.

How Is PNEUMOVAX®23 (Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent) Given?

Can PNEUMOVAX 23 be given with other vaccines?

Talk to your health care provider if you plan to get PNEUMOVAX 23 at the same time as other vaccines.

What are the possible side effects of PNEUMOVAX 23?

The most common side effects are:

  • pain, warmth, soreness, redness, swelling, and hardening at the injection site
  • headache
  • weakness, feeling tired
  • muscle pain

Tell your health care provider or get emergency help right away if you get any of the following problems after vaccination because these may be signs of an allergic reaction or other serious conditions:

  • difficulty breathing
  • wheezing
  • rash
  • hives

Side effects at the site where you get the shot may be more common and may feel worse after a second shot than after the first shot.

Tell your health care provider if you have a side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

For a more complete list of side effects, ask your health care provider.

You may also report any side effect to your health care provider, or directly to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). You may call the VAERS number 1-800-822-79671-800-822-7967 at no charge, or report online to www.vaers.hhs.gov.

What else should I know about PNEUMOVAX 23?

Some people have problems with leakage of spinal fluid after the skull is cracked or injured or after medical operations and this may increase their risk for pneumococcal infection. PNEUMOVAX 23 may not be able to prevent all of these infections.

The vial stoppers, syringe plunger stopper and syringe tip cap for PNEUMOVAX 23 are not made with natural rubber latex.

Ask Your Health Care Provider if PNEUMOVAX®23 (Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent) Is Right for You

ASK YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF PNEUMOVAX 23 IS RIGHT FOR YOU

Take the next step and speak with your health care provider. See our list of questions that can help with that conversation.

See our list of questions that can help with that conversation.

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A pharmacist may be able to help you decide if PNEUMOVAX 23 is right for you.

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Pharmacies listed are located within the range provided and should not be considered an endorsement of the locations.

Site intended for U.S. adults only. Please contact the pharmacy to determine vaccine availability and pharmacy's ability to administer vaccine in your particular situation. You may also want to discuss your insurance information in advance to verify coverage. The information provided here is not intended to replace medical advice from a health care practitioner. Inclusion of a pharmacy is not a representation or guarantee that you will have insurance coverage for the product when administered at pharmacy. The choice of pharmacy also may affect your out-of-pocket costs. You should confirm your insurance coverage for PNEUMOVAX 23 and its administration prior to vaccination.

These are not all the locations that may administer PNEUMOVAX 23. If a location you are looking for is not listed, please contact the location to see if it is administering the vaccine.

The Find a Pharmacy feature is provided for informational purposes only and is based on information provided by pharmacies that have opted in and have agreed to include their information. Merck is not affiliated with any pharmacy and does not support the use of any particular pharmacy. One pharmacy is not preferred over the others. Merck does not make any warranty as to the features and support offered by any particular pharmacy. The inclusion of a pharmacy is not an endorsement of the location, nor is Merck making a representation or guarantee about the qualifications, competence, or skills of the vaccine providers.

 

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What Is PNEUMOVAX 23?

PNEUMOVAX 23 is a vaccine that is given as a shot. It helps protect you from infection by certain germs or bacteria which are called pneumococcus (pronounced "noo-mo-ca-cus").

PNEUMOVAX 23 is for people 50 years of age and older, and those 2 years of age and older if they have certain medical conditions that put them at increased risk for infection.

Important Safety Information

PNEUMOVAX 23 may not protect everyone who gets it. It will not protect against diseases that are caused by bacteria types that are not in the vaccine.

You should not get PNEUMOVAX 23 if you are allergic to any of its ingredients, had an allergic reaction to PNEUMOVAX 23 in the past, or are less than 2 years of age.

Before getting PNEUMOVAX 23, tell your health care provider if you or your child are allergic to the vaccine, have heart or lung problems, have a fever, have immune problems, or are receiving radiation treatment or chemotherapy, are pregnant or breastfeeding.

PNEUMOVAX 23 may not prevent pneumococcal meningitis in patients with leakage of spinal fluid caused by a cracked or injured skull or a medical operation.

Talk to your health care provider if you plan to get PNEUMOVAX 23 at the same time as other vaccines.

The most common side effects of PNEUMOVAX 23 are: pain, warmth, soreness, redness, swelling, and hardening at the injection site, headache, weakness and feeling tired, and muscle pain. Tell your health care provider or get help right away if you have any of the following problems, which may be signs of an allergic reaction: difficulty breathing, wheezing, rash, hives.

Side effects at the site where you get the shot may be more common and may feel worse after a second shot than after the first shot. Tell your health care provider if you or your child has a side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please read the accompanying Patient Information for PNEUMOVAX 23 and discuss it with your health care provider. The physician Prescribing Information also is available.