Pneumococcal 21-valent Conjugate Vaccine Side Effects

Applies to pneumococcal 21-valent conjugate vaccine: intramuscular suspension.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

You should not receive this vaccine if you ever had a severe allergic reaction to a pneumococcal or diphtheria toxoid vaccine.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Keep track of all side effects you have. If you ever need another pneumococcal 21-valent conjugate vaccine, you will need to tell the vaccination provider if the previous shot caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with pneumococcal disease is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is low.

Common side effects may include:

• pain, swelling, or redness where a shot was given;

• muscle pain;

• headache;

• fever; or

• feeling tired.

Call your doctor if your these side effects do not improve after 3 days or if you have any unusual symptoms after the vaccine.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

For healthcare professionals

Applies to pneumococcal 21-valent conjugate vaccine: intramuscular suspension.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported side effects included injection site pain, fatigue, and headache.^[Ref]

Local

• Very common (10% or more): Injection site pain (up to 73.3%), injection site erythema (up to 15.5%), injection site swelling (up to 14%)
• Frequency not reported: Injection site cellulitis^[Ref]

In a clinical trial (n=56), injection site cellulitis occurred in 1 patient on Day 6 following vaccination and required hospitalization.^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Myalgia (up to 16.5%)^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 29.5%)^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Fatigue (up to 40.5%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pyrexia^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Bronchospasm^[Ref]

In a clinical trial (n=56), bronchospasm occurred in 1 patient within 30 minutes of vaccination and required medical intervention.^[Ref]

Further information

Pneumococcal 21-valent conjugate vaccine side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer