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Fewer than half of WHO member states introduced PCV
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As of December, 86 WHO member states have added pneumococcal conjugate vaccines to the routine infant immunization schedule, according to a recent Morbidity and Mortality Report.
“Important gaps in PCV introduction remain, notably in the WHO South-East Asia Region and in countries with large birth cohorts,” CDC researchers wrote. “The lack of PCV introduction in several countries in reflected in the gap between the proportion of countries having introduced PCV (44%) and the proportion of the world’s birth cohort living in countries that have introduced PCV (31%).”
CDC reports PCV introduction was most common in the Americas Region (60% of WHO member states), Eastern Mediterranean Region (50%), European Region (49%), African Region (41%) and Western Pacific Region (33%); no WHO member states in the South-East Asia Region introduced PCV.
Seventy-three percent of high-income countries introduced PCV, followed by 37% of low-income, 35% of lower-middle income and 34% of upper-middle income countries. Of the 72 countries eligible for financial support from the GAVI Alliance for PCV introduction, 32% introduced PCV.
CDC also said, by 2012, 36% of the high-mortality countries, where more than 10% of children deaths are attributed to pneumonia, had introduced PCV.
CDC also reported that of the countries using PCV, coverage with three doses at age 12 to 24 months was highest among high- and low-income countries (median: 92% and 95%, respectively), less among upper-middle income countries (76%) and lowest among lower-middle income countries (44%)
“In spite of these challenges, the rate at which PCV has been introduced into childhood immunization programs worldwide has been faster than that of other new vaccines in the past,” CDC researchers wrote. “In addition to WHO recommendations and GAVI Alliance support, other measures are encouraging PCV use around the world.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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