Prevnar 20

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

It is important to receive each vaccination as scheduled. Be sure to ask when each dose should be received and make a note of the schedule.

Read all vaccine information available from your health care professional before receiving the vaccine. If you have any questions, ask your health care professional.

This vaccine is injected into a muscle by a health care professional. It is usually injected into the thigh in infants or into the upper arm in toddlers, children, and adults.

The child may receive up to 4 injections. The number of injections that are given depends on the age of the child. Adults only receive 1 injection.

If the child is receiving this vaccination before spleen surgery or before receiving cancer chemotherapy or other drugs that decrease the immune system function, it should be given at least 2 weeks before these procedures to be effective. Talk to your health care professional for more information.

Injection site reactions (such as pain, redness, swelling, hard lump), muscle/joint aches, or fever may occur. Ask your health care professional about taking a fever/pain reducer (such as acetaminophen) to help treat these symptoms. Drowsiness, tiredness, headache, irritability, loss of appetite, nausea, or diarrhea may also occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your health care professional promptly.

Rarely, some people have symptoms such as fainting, dizziness, vision changes, or ringing in the ears just after getting a vaccine injection. Tell your health care professional right away if you have any of these symptoms. Sitting or lying down may help, since these symptoms usually don't last long.

Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your health care professional has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: seizures.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your health care professional.

Contact the health care professional for medical advice about side effects. The following numbers do not provide medical advice, but in the US you may report side effects to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) at 1-800-822-7967. In Canada, you may call the Vaccine Safety Section at Public Health Agency of Canada at 1-866-844-0018.

Before receiving this vaccine, tell your health care professional if you are allergic to it; or to other vaccines (such as diphtheria, tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as latex or dry natural rubber that can be found in the product packaging), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your health care professional for more details.

Before using this vaccine, tell your health care professional your medical history, especially of: vaccination/immunization history, recent illness/fever, immune system disorders (such as due to HIV infection, certain cancers such as leukemia/lymphoma, cancer or radiation treatment).

During pregnancy, this vaccine should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your health care professional.

It is unknown if this vaccine passes into breast milk. Consult your health care professional before breast-feeding.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your health care professional. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Some products that may interact with this vaccine include: drugs that weaken the immune system (including cyclosporine, tacrolimus, cancer chemotherapy, corticosteroids such as prednisone).

It is important to understand the risks and benefits of vaccinations. Discuss this with your health care professional.

Talk to your health care professional about the need for other vaccines to prevent possibly severe illness (such as flu shots).

Make sure all of your health care professionals know you have received this vaccine. Make sure a note is placed in your medical record of having received this vaccine.