Our baby is 3 months 15 days baby. Doctor say that Pneumococcal Vaccine is necessary for a baby. We are confused whether to take that vaccination. Please suggest whether this vaccine is necessary or not.

Dr. Prashant Kumar SinghPediatrician13yrs exp

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Well its not mandatory to take a pneumococcal vaccine. Generally pneumococcal vaccine is given to prevent any infection caused by pneumococcus, there are 100+ strains of pneumococcus but this vaccine only provides resistance to infection cause by 13 strains. So the baby has still chance of getting infection from rest of the strains. Generally we recommend this vaccine to babies who are born premature and are at high risk of getting infection, like babies who often get ill having cough and cold or pneumonia. It is mandatory for persons travelling to usa, so if you plan to visit usa in future, get your baby vaccinated. If money is not an issue you can get baby vaccinated. If money is an issue you can skip doses for 1st year and get a single dose at 15 months, that would be enough for life long immunity. So its your decision depending on child health and history as well as your financial status. Hope I have solved your query. 

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