title: Prevnar 13, the new 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) for use in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A MEDLINE search (2000-September 2011) was conducted using the key words Streptococcus pneumoniae and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for clinical trials, limited to studies conducted in humans and published in English.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled, multicenter trials were reviewed and included to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PCV13. Literature on the epidemiology and pathology of pneumococcal infections and recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) were also reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PCV13 is approved for routine vaccination of all infants as a 4-dose series at age 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months for children who previously received 1 or more doses of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), and for children with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for pneumococcal disease or its complications. PCV13 has comparable immunogenicity to the serotypes common with PCV7 and also provides protection against 6 additional pneumococcal serotypes. PCV13 has also been shown to have a comparable adverse reaction profile to PCV7.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on published immunogenicity and safety data, as well as the recent recommendations by the ACIP for routine use in infants and indications for high-risk pediatric patients, PCV13 is a revised formulation of pneumococcal vaccine that should be included on pharmacy formularies.
authors: School of Pharmacy, Regis University, Denver, CO, USA. asucher@regis.edu
authors: Allana J
authors: AJ
authors: Sucher
authors: Elias B
authors: EB
authors: Chahine
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Nelson
authors: Brandon J
authors: BJ
authors: Sucher
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010372:Pediatrics; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: C538862:13-valent pneumococcal vaccine; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate