Nine-Valent Pneumococcal Vaccine Shows Promise in Toddlers

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/433110?srcmp=id-051002&WebLogicSession=POq1dbFQLKyZ3RcPuGAswBdLXHp0QA6adhx72pjyn2GYS1q1dDj1|8559850936141077293/-1408233357/6/7001/7001/7002/7002/7001/-1

Nine-Valent Pneumococcal Vaccine Shows Promise in Toddlers


 

 


 

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) May 03 - A 9-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine given to toddlers provides marked protection against carriage of most vaccine-type (VT) Streptococcus pneumoniae, according to a recent report.

Dr. Ron Dagan and colleagues, from Soroka University Medical Center in Beer-Sheva, Israel, analyzed nasopharyngeal cultures from 262 children who had been given the pneumococcal vaccine or a control vaccine. All of the children were toddlers attending day care.

The pneumococcal serotypes included in the vaccine were 1, 4, 5, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, 23F, and 6B. Most of the children were followed for more than 1.5 years after final vaccination. The researchers' findings are published in the April 1st issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

The rate of VT pneumococci carriage was lower among children who received the pneumococcal vaccine than among those who received the control vaccine, the authors note. This difference was noted in all groups, but was most marked among children 36 months of age or younger.

Of the five vaccine serotypes that could be analyzed, the pneumococcal vaccine offered significant protection against 6B, 9V, 14, and 23F, but not against 19F, the researchers state.

Pneumococcal vaccination also appeared to offer protection against serotype 6A, a serotype not included in the vaccine. However, that was the exception, for most non-VT serotypes, carriage rates were higher in children who received the pneumococcal vaccine than those who received the control vaccine.

"We have demonstrated a marked protection against carriage of VT pneumococci in day care center attendees who received a 9-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine," the authors note. "Because day care centers are associated with extensive spread of pneumococci, our findings suggest that widespread vaccination may result in marked herd immunity."

Further follow-up is needed to determine the clinical significance of the increased rate of non-VT pneumococci carriage among the children who received the vaccine, the investigators note.

J Infect Dis 2002;185:927-936.

 

 


 

   

Reuters Health Information 2002. © 2002 Reuters Ltd
Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.


 

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.