Pneumococcal and Influenza Vaccination Rates and Pneumococcal Invasive Disease Rates Set Geographical and Ethnic Population Susceptibility to Serious COVID-19 Cases and Deaths

Abstract

This study examines the relationship of pneumococcal vaccination rates, influenza, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccinations (DTP), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), and Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (tuberculosis) vaccination rates to COVID-19 case and death rates for 51 nations that have high rates of COVID-19 testing and for which nearly complete childhood, at-risk adult and elderly pneumococcal vaccination data were available. The study is unique in a large number of nations examined, the range of vaccine controls, in testing effects of combinations of vaccinations, and in examining the relationship of COVID-19 and vaccination rates to invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Analysis of Italian regions and the states of the United States were also performed. Significant positive correlations were found between IPD (but not lower respiratory infections) and COVID-19 rates, while significant negative correlations were found between pneumococcal vaccination and COVID-19 rates. Influenza and MMR vaccination rates were negatively correlated with lower respiratory infection (LRI) rates and may synergize with pneumococcal vaccination rates to protect against COVID-19. Pneumococcal and influenza vaccination rates were independent of other vaccination rates. These results suggest that endemic rates of bacterial pneumonias, for which pneumococci are a sentinel, may set regional and national susceptibility to severe COVID-19 disease and death.

A new call for influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations during COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: A SIP/IRS (Italian Respiratory Society) and SITA (Italian Society of Antiinfective therapy) statement

“…The analysis of US and Italian regional data confirmed these previous results demonstrating positive correlations between IPD prevalence and COVID-19 rates, as well as negative correlation between pneumococcal vaccination and COVID-19 rates [4]. Bernstein and colleagues analysed international data on both influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates and reported that the influenza vaccination rate in adults ≥65 years, in combination with pneumococcal vaccination rate, provided significantly higher protection against the risk of COVID-19 compared to individual vaccines [4]. Therefore, the authors hypothesized a possible protective synergism between pneumococcal and influenza vaccines in preventing the acquisition of SARS-CoV-2.…”

“…Pneumococcal vaccination was associated to a reduction in the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as rates of pneumococcal vaccination were reported to inversely correlate with prevalence and mortality from COVID-19 [ 24 ]. The analysis of US and Italian regional data confirmed these previous results demonstrating positive correlations between IPD prevalence and COVID-19 rates, as well as negative correlation between pneumococcal vaccination and COVID-19 rates [ 4 ]. Bernstein and colleagues analysed international data on both influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates and reported that the influenza vaccination rate in adults ≥65 years, in combination with pneumococcal vaccination rate, provided significantly higher protection against the risk of COVID-19 compared to individual vaccines [ 4 ].…”

“…Thus, immunization services were early reinstated and maintained in order to reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable respiratory syndromes in the context of the ongoing pandemic. Regarding this issue, recent studies have also speculated a potential protective effects of prior non SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations towards COVID-19 and its outcomes [ 4 ].…”

COVID‐19 coagulopathies: Human blood proteins mimic SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, vaccine proteins and bacterial co‐infections inducing autoimmunity

“…Vaccination against SARS‐CoV‐2 as well as against recognized coinfections such as Streptococci, Haemophilus , and influenza virus should decrease risk of coagulopathies by preventing bystander or complementary co‐infections, just as they decrease risk of severe COVID‐19 in general. [ 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 ] Additionally, the results reported here may provide insight into the causes of menstruation alterations reported by some women following SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination. [ 112 ] Finally, the present work has implications for future SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine design, implying that whole virus SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines may present an extraordinary risk of inducing coagulopathies compared with the mRNA, peptide, or subunit vaccines because of the very large number of blood protein mimics present; however removing molecular mimicry regions from SARS‐CoV‐2 mRNAs, proteins and their virus vectors may significantly improve vaccine safety.…”

Spatial Analysis of COVID-19 Vaccination: A Scoping Review

“…Using Google and several websites of official public health agencies across 51 nations, [57] aimed to extend a previous ecological study of the effects of vaccines on COVID-19 cases and death rates. They also tested possible additive and synergistic vaccination effects of COVID-19 prophylaxis for controlling co-variance among vaccines.…”