Diseases and vaccines

Pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae)

PATH is working to accelerate development of a safe, effective pneumococcal vaccine appropriate for use in the developing world. One approach being tested is based on surface proteins, as it is believed that a protein vaccine could provide broad protection to children worldwide. Learn more about PATH's work against pneumococcal disease.

Pneumococcal disease

  • The pneumococcus bacterium (Streptococcus pneumoniae) is responsible for up to one million deaths of children under 5 years of age each year, according to the World Health Organization. It can cause pneumonia, meningitis (inflammation of the covering of the brain), ear infections, and bacteremia (blood stream infection). Children under 2 years of age are especially vulnerable to infection.
  • More than 90% of pneumococcal pneumonia deaths in children occur in developing countries.
  • The bacteria normally are carried in the nose or upper throat. They are spread through sneezing, coughing, or speaking closely with an infected person. Thirty to forty percent of children carry the bacteria without showing any signs or symptoms, but they can still infect others.
  • Drugs such as penicillin are generally effective for treating pneumococcal disease, but antibiotic-resistant pneumococcus is becoming more common worldwide. This situation makes prevention of the disease, through widespread use of pneumococcal vaccines, even more important.

Pneumococcal vaccines

  • Currently, there is just one pneumococcal vaccine licensed for use in infants and young children—the seven-valent pneumococcal vaccine that is produced by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
  • A second vaccine containing 10 serotypes is expected to be licensed in 2008, and more than 20 vaccine candidates are in the pipeline.
  • Pneumococcal protein vaccines are being developed and may have the potential to protect against most or all of the disease-causing serotypes of pneumococcus.

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