Is it necessary to take the 13-valent vaccine?

Compared with the 7-valent vaccine, the 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine contains more serotypes. However, compared with the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine, it is more widely used and is the vaccine that health organizations strongly recommend with all their efforts. Although the 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine can effectively reduce the frequency of pneumonia in children, it does not completely guarantee that they will not get pneumonia. So is it necessary to get the 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine?

The 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine can prevent pneumonia caused by pneumococcal infection and reduce the incidence of pneumonia. Children under 2 years old can be given one shot. If the child is over 2 years old, as the body has more antigens, the resistance will become higher and higher, so it is okay to get the vaccine or not.

To reduce the chance of pneumonia, parents need to improve their children's resistance, let them go to bed early and get up early, eat some nutritious food, and if they have time, go to the park to exercise more. Normally there is no need to go to public places. If you go, you must wear a mask and do not stay there for too long. In addition, at home, parents should pay attention to ventilation and hygiene.

The 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine is for children under 2 years old. If they are over 2 years old, the vaccine can be given according to the child's physical condition. Moreover, whether at home or at school, children must pay attention to hygiene, wash their hands before and after meals, and eat nutritious foods to enhance their immunity so that they can have antigens to resist viral infection.

The Vaccine Preventable Diseases Research Committee of the Health and Safety Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region recommends that the following workers should be vaccinated against pneumococcal disease:

1. Children under 2 years old

Vaccination with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine under the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Youth Vaccination Programme. It consists of 3 basic doses given in February, April and June and a booster dose given between December and May.

2. High-risk WeChat groups for people aged 2 to 64

Never received 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: should receive one dose of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and one dose of 23-valent pneumococcal sugar vaccine at least 2 months later. Staff who have already received the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine should receive a dose of 23-valent pneumococcal saccharide vaccine at least 2 months later. If you have already received the 23-valent pneumococcal sugar vaccine, you should wait at least 1 year before receiving the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

3. Staff aged 65 and above