Guidelines for the management of  patients with an absent or dysfunctional spleen: Pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax® II).

• Vaccine should be given to all patients with an absent or dysfunctional spleen (irrespective of previous immunisation status).

Dose?

• 0.5ml subcutaneously or intra-muscularly

Revaccination?

• Recommended every 5 years.
• May be considered every 3 years in  patients whose antibody levels are likely to decline more rapidly (particularly those with sickle- cell anaemia or lymphoproliferative disorders).

Side effects?

• Common! (>1:10)
• Mild fever and injection site reactions most frequent.
• Reimmunisation generally well tolerated but there is a 3-fold increased risk of local reaction, which resolves in ~ 3 days.

Page last edited: 20/05/2009

Caution; the antibiotic doses recommended on this website are intended for adult patients with normal renal and liver function unless otherwise stated. Dosing advice for patients with renal impairment is available here.

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