How many doses are there for the pneumonia vaccine?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 27, 2024
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Currently, there are two types of vaccines commonly used to prevent pneumococcal diseases. One type is the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine, suitable for high-risk populations over two years old. The other type includes the 7-valent or 13-valent conjugate vaccines, used for vaccinating infants under two years old. The vaccination schedule for the 7-valent or 13-valent vaccines follows a "three plus one" program, which means three primary immunization doses with at least one month between each dose, followed by a booster dose. For the 23-valent vaccine, high-risk individuals over two years old generally require only a single dose; however, immunocompromised patients may need a booster shot, typically recommended five years after the initial vaccination.

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Written by Hu Xue Jun
Pulmonology
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Can pneumonia be cured?

Can pneumonia be cured, and will there be any sequelae? Generally speaking, common pneumonia without complications can be completely cured. If pneumonia infection is detected, seek medical attention in a timely manner and treat it rationally under the guidance of a professional doctor, it generally will not leave sequelae or affect lung function. However, some complications of pneumonia, such as meningitis and pericarditis, may leave symptoms like headaches, dizziness, palpitations, and chest pain. Ordinary pneumonia might leave streaky shadows or irregular pleura on chest X-rays or lung CT scans, but these will not impact the human body. Patients who have previously been infected with tuberculosis may have calcification spots in their lungs, which is a normal phenomenon. Some people may experience sequelae after treatment, such as hearing loss caused by the use of antimicrobial drugs, and avascular necrosis of the femoral head occurring after SARS treatment; however, these are possibly side effects of the drugs, rather than sequelae of pneumonia.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Can pneumonia vaccines prevent mycoplasma pneumonia?

There are currently two types of pneumonia vaccines available domestically: the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine and the 7-valent or 13-valent vaccines. These vaccines primarily prevent infections caused by certain serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The pneumonia vaccines cannot prevent Mycoplasma pneumonia, as Mycoplasma and Streptococcus pneumoniae are two different types of pathogens and do not share the same antibodies for protective effects. Thus, the pneumonia vaccines are mainly for preventing diseases related to Streptococcus pneumoniae infections, and are ineffective against Mycoplasma pneumonia.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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What should a child with pneumonia eat?

Childhood pneumonia is an infectious disease that not only presents symptoms related to the respiratory system but also may include symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract, such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and abdominal distension. Therefore, the diet for pneumonia must be light and easy to digest. For instance, if the child is breastfed, the mother should consume a light and digestible diet. If the child is fed with cow's milk, the milk can be diluted appropriately to aid digestion. Supplementary foods can generally include thin porridge, noodles, rice paste, vegetables, and fruits, as well as a moderate amount of lean meat and eggs, but not in excess. Oily and spicy foods should not be included.

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Written by Yang Feng
Pulmonology
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Symptoms of pneumonia in infants

Pneumonia is a particularly common infectious disease of the respiratory system. In infants and young children with pneumonia, the main clinical symptoms include fever, crying, vomiting, and so forth. Since infants cannot express their discomfort, it is difficult to make a diagnosis. However, when a patient presents with fever, we first need to consider the possibility of a lung infection. We can determine whether there is an infection of the lungs through listening to the chest, routine blood tests, imaging examinations, etc., and then treat the pneumonia with effective anti-inflammatory therapy.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Is the pneumonia vaccine self-funded?

The pneumonia vaccine is primarily aimed at preventing pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most significant and common bacterium causing pneumonia worldwide. This bacterium is also the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia in children and is the main pathogen causing otitis media, meningitis, and bacteremia in children. Currently, there are two types of pneumonia vaccines available in China: the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine, which is suitable for people over two years old, and the 7-valent vaccine, which is suitable for infants under two years old. According to the regulations on vaccine distribution and vaccination management implemented in our country, vaccines are clearly divided into two categories: the first category includes vaccines provided free by the government to citizens, who are required to be vaccinated according to government regulations; the second category includes other vaccines that are paid for and voluntarily received by citizens. The pneumonia vaccine belongs to the second category, which is a self-funded vaccine.