Human Vaccines
Volume 6, Issue 11  November 2010
http://www.landesbioscience.com/journals/vaccines/toc/volume/6/issue/10/

Why it is still important that countries know the burden of pneumococcal disease

Rosa Prato, Silvio Tafuri, Francesca Fortunato and Domenico Martinelli

Pneumococcal diseases are a major public health problem worldwide. WHO estimates about 1.6 million of annual deaths, mostly in infants, elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Data on the burden of pneumococcal diseases are still limited but information on serotypes circulation and epidemiological pattern of diseases are essential to assess the impact of old and new vaccines. The 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is recommended in the elderly in many industrialized countries. The 7-valent polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine is introduced into routine infant immunization programs of several countries; it is modifying the epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) in the population, including adults of all ages. The 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is licensed for active immunization of infants and children from 6 weeks up to 2 years of age but it does not contain the emergent 19A serotype. The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is an evolution of the 7-valent and currently addresses the overall need for a broader serotypes coverage. Vaccine manufacturers must continue to further develop pneumococcal vaccines covering the majority of the circulating serotypes in all age groups. Vaccination appears to be the only public health action that could reduce the impact of IPD.