Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

------------------------------------------------------------

April 15, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Protein Conjugate Pneumococcal Vaccines"

British Medical Journal Online (www.bmj.com) (03/30/02) Vol. 324, No. 7340, P. 750; Spoulou, Vana; Gilks, Charles F.; Ioannidis, John P.A.

Protein conjugate pneumococcal vaccines may have an important role to play as invasive pneumococcal disease is a significant problem in many parts of the world.  Though Charles F. Gilks and John P.A. Ioannidis note in an editorial in the British Medical Journal that 94 percent of invasive disease in young children is eliminated through the use of the vaccine, they assert that testing on other children and adults is necessary.  One potential drawback is that the vaccines have been linked to pneumonia in HIV-positive people.  While clinical efficacy has not been fully proven, the vaccines have improved immunogenicity and can induce immune responses.  The products can be cost-effective in healthy infants and children in the United States, according to a recent cost-benefit analysis.  The cost of the vaccine is high enough to make some Western countries wary of a purchase and may be too steep for many developing countries to afford.

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.