A comprehensive overview of pneumococcal vaccination recommendations for adults in South Africa, 2022

Abstract

Pneumococcal infections remain a common global cause of significant morbidity and mortality.The first recommendations for adult pneumococcal vaccination, published in South Africa in 1999, contained information only on the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23). With the introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) for use in adults and the perceived uncertainty that most clinicians had regarding use of these vaccines in adults, these vaccine recommendations were updated in 2022. A Working Group, which consisted of individuals in various fields of medical practice in South Africa, who were from different areas of the country, and included clinicians from both the public and private sectors, was assembled to revise the recommendations. The expertise of the participants varied widely, dependent on their training and specialty, and encompassed different organ systems, disease conditions, and/or practice types. Each participant was allocated a different section, based on their expertise, for which they were required to do an extensive review of the current literature and write their section. The entire working group then reviewed the complete document several times, following additional comments and recommendations. This update contains recommendations for the use of both PPV23 and PCV13, either alone, or in sequence, both in vaccine naïve and in previously vaccinated individuals. It includes both age and risk categories, and encompasses the elderly (≥65 years), as well as younger adults (<65 years

Hopes for the Future of Geriatric Medicine in South Africa

“…Some locally authored guidelines have recognised the niche care needs of older people and have included either geriatricians as authors or include specific sections on older patients. This includes the hip fracture recommendation, (8) the National Osteoporosis Foundation of South Africa guideline,(9) the pneumococcal vaccine guidelines, (10) the dyslipidaemia guideline (11) and the diabetic guidelines. (12) We recognise that there are unlikely to be enough geriatric medicine specialists to meet the needs of our older population.…”