Update: You can book a pneumococcal vaccination at a participating CHAS GP clinic here.
Pneumococcal Disease Causes and Risk Factors
Although anyone can get pneumococcal disease, those at particularly high risk are infants and young children, adults who are 65 and older and individuals with chronic medical illnesses or weakened immune systems.
Pneumococcal Disease Signs and Symptoms
Children under the age of 5 and adults aged 65 years and above, are among those who are at highest risk for pneumococcal disease. Within three days of becoming infected the following signs and symptoms may appear.
Symptoms can vary based on the systems affected.
- Bacteraemia — infection in the blood causing high fever and non-specific signs of illness
- Meningitis — infection around the brain causing fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, photophobia (avoidance of bright light owing to pain) and/or stiffness of the neck. Infants often have fever and non-specific signs of illness
- Pneumonia — infection in the lungs causing fever, chills, cough, chest pain and rapid breathing
- Acute otitis media — infection in the ear causing ear pain and fever
- Sinusitis — infection in the sinuses causing low-grade fever, runny nose and cough
Pneumococcal Disease Complications
Pneumococcal Disease Diagnosis
Pneumococcal Disease Treatment
Pneumococcal Disease Vaccines
Vaccination
Vaccination is generally the safest and most effective way to protect young children, older adults and those with specific medical conditions against pneumococcal disease. There are several types of pneumococcal vaccines described in the section below.
- Babies need a total of 3 doses of PCV10 or PCV13 during their first year of life.
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At 4, 6 and 12 months of age. Children who fall behind should be given catch-up vaccination through to 59 months of age.
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- For seniors 65 & above, 2 pneumococcal vaccines provide life-long protection.
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1 dose of PPSV23 and
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1 dose of PCV13
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- People with specific medical concerns such as diabetes or chronic diseases of the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys as well as immunocompromised patients also require 2 pneumococcal vaccine doses.
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1 dose of PPSV23 and
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1 dose of PCV13 at any time and
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an additional dose of PPSV23 to be given after the age of 65
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Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23)
This protects against 23 pneumococcal serotypes.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13)
This protects against 13 pneumococcal serotypes.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV10)
This protects against 10 pneumococcal serotypes.
Refer to this table for the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule or ask your child's doctor for more details. The vaccine may cause mild fever and some soreness around the site of injection, which usually lasts only a short time.
Subsidised Pneumococcal Vaccinations
- Fully subsidised for all Singaporean children at CHAS GP clinics and polyclinics.
- Highly subsidised for eligible Singaporean adults at CHAS GP clinics and polyclinics
MediSave can be used to offset the remaining cost of Pneumococcal Vaccinations for eligible Singaporeans (Citizens and Permanent Residents). Up to $500/$700 per year per account can be used to pay for pneumococcal vaccinations for those in high-risk groups as indicated above.
Click here for more information on subsidies available, other vaccine-preventable diseases and frequently asked questions.
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Contributed By
- Communicable Diseases Agency