Vaccines to prevent pneumonia in children – a developing country perspective

Abstract

Pneumonia accounted for 15% of the 6.3 million deaths among children younger than five years in 2013, a total of approximately 935,000 deaths worldwide. Routine vaccination against common childhood illnesses has been identified as one of the most cost-effective strategies to prevent death from pneumonia. Vaccine-preventable or potentially preventable diseases commonly linked with respiratory tract infections include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza type-b (Hib), pertussis, influenza, measles, and tuberculosis. Although here have been great strides in the development and administration of effective vaccines, the countries that carry the largest disease burdens still struggle to vaccinate their children and newer conjugated vaccines remain out of reach for many. The Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) has identified priority areas for innovation in research in all aspects of immunisation development and delivery to ensure equitable access to vaccines for all.

Factors That Negatively Affect the Prognosis of Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia in District Hospital in Tanzania

“…Particularly, S. p. and Hib are considered to be the leading cause of child pneumonia deaths worldwide and a universal use of conjugated Hib and pneumococcal vaccines should prevent approximately 1 million child deaths per year [18,19,20]. Delayed introduction of conjugated vaccines in developing countries is mostly attributed to high cost and lack of political will, resulting in widening vaccine schedule gaps between developed and under developed countries.…”

S2k-Leitlinie Management der ambulant erworbenen Pneumonie bei Kindern und Jugendlichen (pädiatrische ambulant erworbene Pneumonie, pCAP)

“…Die universelle Impfung gegen Pertussis und Haemophilus influenzae Typ B konnte die entsprechende Pneumonie-Inzidenz nachhaltig senken [168]. Nach der routinemäßigen Grundimmunisierung im frühen Kindesalter sollte der Pertussis-Impfschutz auch im Erwachsenenalter aufgefrischt werden.…”

Encouraging rational antibiotic use in childhood pneumonia: a focus on Vietnam and the Western Pacific Region

“…Another important factor to take into consideration is the roll-out of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. Routine administration of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in infancy has led to major reductions in pneumonia hospitalization and invasive pneumococcal disease in young children [17]. Given that the most common drug resistant strains were included in 7-and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, drug resistant pneumococcal disease has been greatly reduced in areas with high vaccine uptake [18], while reductions in strain carriage also reduced secondary pneumonia cases among older adults [17].…”

“…Routine administration of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in infancy has led to major reductions in pneumonia hospitalization and invasive pneumococcal disease in young children [17]. Given that the most common drug resistant strains were included in 7-and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, drug resistant pneumococcal disease has been greatly reduced in areas with high vaccine uptake [18], while reductions in strain carriage also reduced secondary pneumonia cases among older adults [17]. However, recent studies from Canada and the United Kingdom demonstrated substantial increases in multidrug resistant non-vaccine serotypes in both colonizing and invasive strains since introducing PCV13, with similar findings for colonizing strains after introducing PCV7 in Korean children [19][20][21].…”