Safety of pneumococcal revaccination

Indications for pneumococcal polysaccharide revaccination include highest-risk patients vaccinated more than six years previously, but there is controversy regarding revaccination of patients with chronic medical conditions and revaccination of the elderly. The object of the study was to investigate whether revaccination with the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine would cause significant adverse reactions. 151 patients were revaccinated and completed a questionnaire concerning the 72 hours after the injection. Valid data were obtained from 127 patients. Mild systemic reactions varied from 4% to 8% and local reactions varied from 40% to 60%, which is not different from the reported reaction with the initial vaccination. This profile of adverse reactions after revaccination should minimize concerns about revaccination. Received from the Allergy/Immunization Clinic, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado. Presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy and Immunology, November 8, 1994, San Francisco, California. No grant or financial support was received.