Published in the journal Pediatrics, this study aims to determine the population impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) on pneumococcal-related diseases, including pneumonia and otitis media by measuring annual rates of medical visits for pneumococcal-related diseases (pneumococcal and nonspecific pneumonia and invasive disease; otitis media) and pneumococcal-unrelated diseases (other acute respiratory illnesses). Disease rates before (1995–2000 in Tennessee; 1998–2000 in New York) and after (2000–2002) PCV licensure were calculated for children aged <2 years (eligible for PCV) and those 3 to 5 years (not routinely given PCV). Because annual variations should affect both age groups similarly and vaccine-related outcomes should preferentially decline in younger children, ratios (<2:3–5 years) of disease rates before and after PCV licensure were compared. Expected disease rates were calculated for children aged <2 years in each postvaccine year. The difference between observed and expected disease rates was the estimated vaccine effect.

Author(s): Poehling K, Lafleur BJ, Szilagyi PG, et al.

Published: 2004

Resource types: Peer-reviewed journal

Diseases: Pneumococcus

Topics: Disease/vaccine specific information

Regions: Global