Pneumococcal Vaccine: What You Need to Know
6. What if there is a moderate or severe reaction?
What should I look for?
Look for any unusual condition, such as a serious allergic reaction, high fever, or unusual behavior.
Serious allergic reactions are extremely rare with any vaccine. If one were to occur, it would most likely be within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. Signs can include:
- difficulty breathing
- hoarseness or wheezing
- hives
- paleness
- weakness
- a fast heart beat
- dizziness
- swelling of the throat
What should I do?
Call a doctor or get the person to a doctor right away.
Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given.
Ask your health care provider to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting
System (VAERS) form. Or you can file this report through the VAERS web site at www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
7. The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
In the rare event that you or your child has a serious reaction to a vaccine, a federal program has been created to help pay for the care of those who have been harmed.
For details about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, call 1-800-338-2382 or visit the program's website at http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation
8. How can I learn more?
(CDC):
- Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO)
- Visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines
Pneumococcal Vaccine: What You Need to Know
In this article
6. What if there is a moderate or severe reaction?
What should I look for?
Look for any unusual condition, such as a serious allergic reaction, high fever, or unusual behavior.
Serious allergic reactions are extremely rare with any vaccine. If one were to occur, it would most likely be within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. Signs can include:
- difficulty breathing
- hoarseness or wheezing
- hives
- paleness
- weakness
- a fast heart beat
- dizziness
- swelling of the throat
What should I do?
Call a doctor or get the person to a doctor right away.
Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given.
Ask your health care provider to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting
System (VAERS) form. Or you can file this report through the VAERS web site at www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
7. The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
In the rare event that you or your child has a serious reaction to a vaccine, a federal program has been created to help pay for the care of those who have been harmed.
For details about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, call 1-800-338-2382 or visit the program's website at http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation
8. How can I learn more?
- Ask your provider. They can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.
- Call your local or state health department.
- Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC):
- Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO)
- Visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines
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