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BackgroundData on the burden of pneumococcal disease and the most frequent serotypes demonstrated that invasive disease and pneumonia were important manifestations affecting children under 5 years of age. Therefore, pneumococcal diseases prevention became a public health priority. Uruguay was the first Latin American country to incorporate PCV7 into its National Immunization Program. The aim of this study is to compare the incidence rates for hospitalized pneumonia in children from the pre PCV introduction period and the following five years of PCVs application in Uruguay.Methods and FindingsPopulation-based surveillance of pneumonia hospitalization rates, in children, less than 14 years of age, had been performed prior pneumococcal vaccination, and continued following PCV7 introduction and PCV13 replacement, using the same methodology. Hospitalized children with pneumonia were enrolled from January 1, 2009 through December 31st, 2012. The study was carried out in an area with a population of 238,002 inhabitants of whom 18, 055 were under five years of age. Patients with acute lower respiratory infections for whom a chest radiograph was performed on admission were eligible. Digitalized radiographs were interpreted by a reference radiologist, using WHO criteria. Pneumonia was confirmed in 2,697 patients, 1,267 with consolidated and 1,430 with non consolidated pneumonia of which incidence decrease, between 2009 and 2012, was 27.3% and 46.4% respectively. 2001–2004 and 2009–2012 comparison showed a significant difference of 20.4% for consolidated pneumonia hospitalizations. A significant incidence decline was recorded among children 6 to 35 months of age.ConclusionsAn overall significant reduction in pneumonia hospitalizations was observed following the introduction of PCV7 and furthermore following the change to PCV13.

Between 1979 and 1994, epidemiological surveillance of meningitides in Uruguay showed a progressive increase in suppurative meningitides due mainly to Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). The cases were concentrated in children under 5; however, among the cases caused by Hib, 70% affected children from 1 to 11 months old. Facing this situation, the Ministry of Public Health resolved, as of August 1994, to include the Hib vaccine in the country's Expanded Program on Immunization, which has been in place since 1982. The Hib vaccination is done without charge and is obligatory for all children under 5 years of age. It is done using the following series of vaccinations: a) three doses, given at 2, 4, and 6 months, with a booster dose at age 1; b) children from 7 to 11 months old receive two doses two months apart and a booster dose a year later; and c) a single dose for children 12 months to 4 years old. Between August and December 1994 a coverage rate of 76.6% was reached among children between 2 months and 4 years old, and the coverage has remained above 80% in the new cohorts. In Uruguay, this vaccination strategy had a spectacular impact on morbidity and mortality due to meningitides caused by Hib. One of the results was that the incidence of 15.6 per 100,000 registered in children under 5 in the prevaccination years declined to 0.03 per 100,000 in 1996.

Uruguay's NIP registration system produces remarkably reliable information, ensuring valid measurement of immunization coverage. In addition, by allowing for monitoring of each child's current vaccination status, it facilitates management of interventions designed to reduce vaccination default and thus helps achieve the country's high level of coverage.

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Resumen:La neumonía adquirida en la comunidad en adultos, es un importante problema de salud pública. En América Latina son muy escasas las publicaciones que documenten su incidencia. Esta comunicación breve proporciona datos preliminares sobre la incidencia (10 5 persona/año) de neumonías en adultos hospitalizados. La base de datos de una institución médica privada de Uruguay, posibilitó la estimación de la incidencia de esa patología, antes de la implementación de la vacuna conjugada neumocóccica (VCN) en la infancia y luego de su aplicación. En 1.688 pacientes con neumonía los mayores de 64 años predominaron y su incidencia fue de 1.938 en el período prevacu nación, descendiendo signifi cativamente a 1.365 luego de la VCN. A pesar de la posible protección indirecta de la vacunación, la información presentada alerta sobre la persistencia de morbimortalidad por neumonía en adultos mayores. Palabras clave:Neumonia en adultos, incidencia, streptococcus pneumoniae. Abstract:Pneumonia in adults poses severe health risks, but data on its burden still lacks in Latin American countries including Uruguay. To fi ll this gap preliminary information on hospitalized pneumonia incidence in adults was analyzed. A data base from a private medical institution enabled to estimate, pre and post pneumococcal conjugate vaccine incidences (10 5 person/year), by age groups. Out of 1.688 1 Investigador Asociado, Asesor en Vacunaciones, Uruguay.

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