SAN ANTONIO – Pediatricians across the country have a message for all parents: Talk to your child’s doctor about the pneumococcal vaccine, especially if your child is under 2 years old.
Pneumococcus is a bacteria that some people carry, even without symptoms, and it can be spread by coughing or sneezing. It’s dangerous for people over 65, but mainly for children under 2 because of their undeveloped immune systems.
While pneumococcus can cause minor issues like ear infections, it can lead to something more serious.
“They can develop severe pneumonias, meningitis, bone and joint infections, as well as blood infections with pneumococcus,” said Dr. Mandi Tibball Svatek, a pediatric hospitalist with University Hospital and UT Health San Antonio.
Svatek said that’s why prevention is critical in the form of a vaccine.
“It is part of the routine vaccine schedule that they get up to four doses prior to the age of 15 months,” Svatek said.
During the peak of the pandemic, many kids didn’t make it to their regular doctor appointments. Svatek said that led to some children ending up at emergency centers, like University Hospital, with serious infections.
The Texas Medical Association reports nearly 2,000 invasive pneumococcal disease cases in Texas each year.
The association is urging parents to get their kids the vaccine to avoid potential serious illness.
“In the hospital, we see it enough with pneumonia as overcoming ear infections that go beyond. And then sometimes we’ll see in small infants that it gets into their bloodstream,” Svatek said.
She said to talk to your pediatrician if you see long-lasting infections or fever, especially if your child is in school, day care, or other crowded places.