http://ipsapp003.lwwonline.com/content/getfile/1980/99/8/abstract.htm
In the US a pneumococcal conjugate vaccination program with a 7-valent conjugate vaccine was successfully implemented in 2000. How much invasive pneumococcal disease can potentially be prevented by the 7-valent (or 11-valent) vaccine in Europe?
Prospective, active surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease in German children age <16 years was performed between 1997 and 2000. Age- and disease-specific coverage and incidence rates were assessed in children old enough to benefit from complete vaccination to estimate the annual number of cases potentially preventable.
A total of 1,743 cases were reported; 667 isolates were serotyped. Coverage of 7-valent (11-valent) conjugate vaccines in children age 6 months and older was age- and diagnosis-dependent, ranging from 10.5% (15.8%) to 78.3% (82.6%) for meningitis and from 13.6% (68.2%) to 75.0% (89.3%) for nonmeningitis invasive pneumococcal disease cases. Of an estimated annual number of 176 children with pneumococcal meningitis age 6 months or older, 112 (122) cases had serotypes included in the 7-valent (11-valent) conjugate vaccine compared with 181 (254) of 324 nonmeningitis invasive pneumococcal disease cases, with 37 of the 73 cases covered by the 11-valent vaccine only in children older than 5 years. Regarding meningitis in this age group the potential benefit was equally poor for both the 7-valent (12 of 37 cases) and the 11-valent vaccine (15 of 37 cases).
Coverage of the 7- and 11-valent conjugate vaccines depends markedly on age and disease. The additional potential benefit of the 11-valent compared with the 7-valent vaccine for pneumococcal meningitis was marginal.
From Institute for Social Pediatrics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich (RVK, MH, AH); Robert-Koch-Institute, Berlin (AS); Center for Preventive Paediatrics, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz (HJS); and National Reference Centre for Streptococci, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule, Aachen (AA, RRR), Germany.
Accepted for publication July 8, 2002.
Address for reprints: Rüdiger von Kries, M.D., M.Sc., Department of Pediatric Epidemiology, Institute of Social Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Heiglhofstrasse 63, D-81377 München, Germany. Fax ++49-89-71009-314/315; E-mail ag.epi@lrz.uni-muenchen.de.
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.