Side Effects of the Pneumococcal Vaccine
The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is quite safe. Nevertheless, it frequently causes mild reactions at the site of injection. Redness and mild swelling at the injection site are quite common, but they are short lasting. The skin reaction is rarely severe enough to prevent your child from playing and acting normally. In addition to these local reactions, your child may be more irritable or sleepy for one to two days after receiving the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
The pneumococcal vaccine has not been implicated with autoimmune disorders or autism. This vaccine never contained the mercury-based thimerosal or any other types of preservatives. Millions of doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine have been given, and the experience so far shows that no permanent side effects have been reported.
Fact
Beyond mild skin irritation at the injection site and a slight fever, there are no reported serious side effects that have been linked to the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. This vaccine is not blamed for autism because the autism epidemic was already rampant by the time this vaccine was licensed.
Similar to most other vaccines, the pneumococcal vaccine can cause a fever. The chance of a high fever (temperature greater than 102°F) is about 2 percent, which is slightly higher than the chance of a high temperature after receiving the DTaP vaccine. This fever rarely lasts for more than three days, and the fever itself does not cause any harm to your child.
