Argentina’s Institute for Clinical and Health Effectiveness (IECS), in collaboration with institutions throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, has played a key role in research on the effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccines in the region. The study evaluated the impact of PCV10 and PCV13 conjugate vaccines in reducing invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) in children under 5 years of age, diseases known for their high morbidity, mortality and the high costs they represent for health systems.
El Dr. Ariel Bardach and researchers from the IECS Epidemiology and Public Health Research Center (CIESP), together with collaborators from other institutions in the country, evaluated the distribution of IPD serotypes and the burden of the disease at different stages: before, during and after the implementation of the pneumococcal immunization program in the region. Through a systematic review based on the renowned Cochrane database, the research also measured the impact of these vaccines on hospitalization and mortality associated with the disease over time.
The analysis included 155 epidemiological studies conducted in 22 countries, covering a total of 170.054 patients. The results showed that, in children under 5 years of age, between 57% and 65% of the serotypes causing IPD were covered by PCV10, while PCV13 covered between 66% and 84%. These findings underline the effectiveness of the vaccines, which managed to significantly reduce the incidence of IPD caused by the serotypes included in them.
A change in serotype distribution was also observed after vaccination. Although the serotypes covered by vaccines decreased significantly in IPD cases, the occurrence of non-vaccine serotypes varied among different countries in the region, highlighting the importance of continued surveillance.
In summary, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines PCV10 and PCV13 have proven to be crucial tools in the fight against IPD in Latin America and the Caribbean, covering a broad spectrum of serotypes in children under 5 years of age and significantly reducing the burden of the disease. The collaboration of the IECS and other leading institutions is essential to monitor the evolution of serotypes and guide public health actions.
Access the full study this article