Study urged for pneumococcal vaccine in low-income countries

Fitzwater SP. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2012;doi:10.1097INF.0b013e31824de9f6.

Data from parts of Africa suggest that the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is making a dent in pneumococcal disease, all-cause pneumonia and acute otitis media rates there, but more research is needed in a cross section of lower income, higher disease burden countries, according to researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Sean P. Fitzwater, MHS, and colleagues in the department of international health examined data from numerous clinical trial and research studies throughout the world, which evaluated the overall effectiveness of PCV7 (Prevnar, Wyeth).

The researchers said the bulk of the efficacy data hailed from high-income, low-disease burden countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, all of which saw dramatic declines in pneumonia hospital admissions and cases of AOM. These countries also noted herd immunity trends, as well as an increase in nonvaccine serotypes. However, even with the emergence of nonvaccine serotypes, reductions of invasive disease were significant.

PCV7 also was associated with reduced disease burden in lower-income countries, but more research is needed for low-income, high-disease burden countries, especially with the recent introduction of 10- and 13-valent pneumococcal vaccines, the researchers said.

“Vaccine impact data from lower income countries is forthcoming, as are data on the newly introduced PCV10 and PCV13 vaccines,” the study researchers wrote. “This information will be instrumental in determining the appropriate use of these vaccines and to sustain further introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.”

Disclosure: Mr. Fitzwater reports no relevant financial disclosures.

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