WEDNESDAY, Feb. 24 (HealthDay News) -- The Prevnar 13 vaccine, a
combination shot that protects children aged 6 weeks through 5
years from a host of illnesses, including pneumonia and ear
infections, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration. The vaccine, a successor to a decade-old
combination shot known as Prevnar, prevents illness caused by 13
different classes of Stretococcus pneumoniae, which could also
cause infections of the blood and covering of the brain and
spinal cord, the FDA said in a news release. The earlier shot
targeted six fewer types of the bacterium. Prevnar 13 is meant
to be given in a four-dose schedule at 2, 4, 6 and 12-15 months
of age, the FDA said. The new vaccine was evaluated in a
clinical study of 5,084 infants and youngsters who received
Prevnar 13, compared with 2,760 who got the earlier version of
Prevnar. Side effects were similar with both vaccines, including
pain, injection-site swelling and redness, irritability, loss of
appetite and fever. Prevnar 13 is pr