Prevnar 13 -- can anyone explain why there are different recommendations in U.S. and U.K.?

[Erin P]

Does anyone have any insight as to why the U.K. recommended schedule for Prevnar has one fewer injection than the U.S. recommended schedule? In the U.S., Prevnar 13 is recommended to be given at 2, 4, and 6 months plus a booster between 12 and 15 months; in the U.K. (called "Prevenar 13" there), it is only recommended at 2 and 4 months before a booster at 13 months.

Is there a place I can look at what kind of a difference in immunity the extra shot gives? We chose to have our son receive the first two injections (though on a Dr. Sears-inspired alternative schedule), but we are still trying to decide whether it's worth taking him for the third. Seems if the U.K. deems it not schedule-worthy...maybe it really isn't.

Your thoughts?

[nia82]

I couldn't find any specific information on titers, but I read the European package insert (it is called Prevenar there) and they recommend 3 doses, one at 2,3 months and then at 12-15 months. Or then just 2 doses if started after 12 months or one after 24 months. I'm pretty sure what they recommend is sufficient. We don't do Prevnar anyways so I cannot recommend it either way to you, but if I did Prevnar, I would follow the European schedule in a heartbeat (I'm a big fan of the Icelandic schedule, they don't even recommend Prevnar; it also is not paid for by Austrian health insurances).