Why is the 13-valent vaccine more recommended than the 23-valent vaccine
Pneumococcus is a common pathogenic bacteria that can cause a variety of diseases, such as pneumonia, otitis media, meningitis, etc. To prevent the disease caused by this germ, a pneumonia vaccine was developed. Currently, there are 13-valent vaccine and 23-valent vaccine on the market, but the 13-valent vaccine is more recommended than the 23-valent vaccine. Why is this?
Advantage 1 of the 13-valent vaccine: More comprehensive protection for children
Children are a high-risk group for pneumococcal infection, and the 13-valent vaccine is the first vaccine that can be vaccinated under the age of 6, which can provide comprehensive protection for children. The 23-valent vaccine needs to be vaccinated by those over 2 years old. In addition, the 13-valent vaccine has a wider coverage, including 6 types of HIV, glycosylation-dependent serotypes and newly discovered strains that cannot be covered by the 23-valent vaccine, which can protect children\’s health more comprehensively.
Advantage 2 of the 13-valent vaccine: It also protects adults well
The protective effect of the 23-valent vaccine is relatively significant in the elderly, but the protective effect on middle-aged adults is poor. In comparison, the 13-valent vaccine has a certain response and protective effect on adults of all ages. It has good immune effects whether it is targeting the elderly, middle-aged people, or healthy adults. At the same time, the 13-valent vaccine can also prevent epijunctivitis, sepsis and other diseases caused by pneumococcal bacteria, and can more comprehensively protect the health of adults.
Advantage 3 of the 13-valent vaccine: fewer side effects
Vaccination with any kind of vaccine will have certain side effects, but compared to the 23-valent vaccine, the 13-valent vaccine has fewer side effects. Clinical trials have shown that only some people who received the 13-valent vaccine experienced uncomfortable symptoms such as pain, ecchymosis, redness and swelling, while the 23-valent vaccine had obvious side effects, such as chills, fever and other adverse reactions.
Advantage 4 of the 13-valent vaccine: the timing of vaccination is more flexible
The 23-valent vaccine needs to be boosted every 3-5 years after vaccination, otherwise the protective effect will be lost. The 13-valent vaccine only needs one booster after the initial vaccination to maintain the immune effect for a longer period of time. This allows people who receive the 13-valent vaccine to more conveniently manage the time and frequency of vaccination, reducing the cost and time of vaccination.
In short, the 13-valent vaccine is more recommended than the 23-valent vaccine because it has wider coverage, more comprehensive protection for both children and adults, fewer side effects, and more flexible vaccination timing. Therefore, we should choose the pneumonia vaccine that suits us based on our own situation and doctor’s advice to strengthen our immunity and protect the health of ourselves and our families.
