Getting to know pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)

Vaccine Dramatically Reduces Ear Infections in Young Kids

New research shows that a routine vaccine can help dramatically reduce ear infections, which are a common part of early childhood. Most kids have at least one ear infection by the time they're 3 years old.

A recent study showed that kids who receive the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) are much less likely to get frequent middle ear infections or to need tubes in their ears to prevent infections. The vaccine also provides some protection against pneumococcal infections such as pneumonia and meningitis.

Researchers monitored more than 175,000 children who received the vaccine in two states. The rates of frequent ear infections and/or ear tube surgeries dropped 16% in one state and 25% in another.

When doctors talk about an ear infection, they usually mean "otitis media," an inflammation in the middle ear area that causes a buildup of fluid or pus that causes pain and sometimes a fever. If ear infections recur often and don't resolve easily, or if a child has hearing loss or speech delay, doctors may suggest surgery to drain fluid from the middle ear and insert a tiny temporary tube (also called a pressure equalization or tympanostomy tube) to help prevent fluid from accumulating again.

What This Means to You

The PVC vaccine is given in a series of four shots, at 2, 4, 6, and 12–15 months of age. The vaccine became a part of the routine immunization schedule 7 years ago.

PVC helps prevent recurrent ear infections, but there's still a chance your child will get one on occasion. Symptoms include:

• pulling or rubbing the ears
• fever
• fussiness or irritability
• fluid or pus leaking from the ear
• changes in appetite or sleeping patterns
• trouble hearing

Although antibiotics may be the first course of treatment for bacterial ear infections, many ear infections are viral and, therefore, won't respond to antibiotics. And some ear infections may resolve within 2 or 3 days without treatment of any kind. But you can help reduce the discomfort by giving acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain and fever as needed.