Abstract
Individuals <2 years and ≥50 years of age, as well as those with other specific risk factors, are especially vulnerable to invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Conjugate vaccines have been developed against encapsulated bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae to provide improved immune responses. The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) has significantly reduced the burden of vaccine-type pneumococcal diseases in children, including invasive disease and pneumonia and acute otitis media. There have also been significant declines in antimicrobial resistance in 7-valent vaccine serotypes and carriage of S. pneumoniae in the post-PCV7 era. Two to three years after the introduction of PCV13, there is emerging, global evidence of a reduced burden of pneumococcal diseases in children, including declines in IPD (UK and Germany) and nasopharyngeal carriage of PCV13 serotypes (Portugal and France). The functional immunogenicity of PCV13 in individuals ≥50 years of age has been demonstrated in clinical trials in comparison with the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine and for children and adults 6 to 49 years of age. Between 2011 and 2013, PCV13 received market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for these additional age groups and is now available in Europe for the prevention of pneumococcal disease in all age groups.
Highlights
Individuals
The aim of this article is to discuss what could be expected from 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) use in the population over 5 years of age based current knowledge from the post-marketing experience of childhood vaccination with PCV13 and from pivotal trials performed in children, adolescents and adults
In Europe, PCV13 (Prevenar 13®, comprising the additional serotypes: 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F and 19A) is indicated for the prevention of IPD, pneumonia and acute otitis media (AOM) caused by S. pneumoniae in infants and children from 6 weeks up to the age of 17 years and for IPD in individuals aged ≥18 years [23]
Summary
Pneumococcal vaccines have been available for more than 100 years, starting with the development of the pneumococcal whole-cell vaccine in 1911 [19], followed by the availability of polysaccharide vaccines with increasing numbers of serotypes, including the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23), which became available in 1983. The 7valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), which comprises pneumococcal polysaccharides for serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F, was introduced in 2000 in the USA and in 2001 in Europe [20], and has been successfully used in many childhood pneumococcal immunisation programmes around the world. In Europe, PCV10 (Synflorix®, comprising the additional serotypes: 1, 5 and 7F) was indicated for active immunisation against IPD and acute otitis media (AOM) in infants and children from 6 weeks up to 5 years of age [22] and in 2013, the pneumonia indication was added. In Europe, PCV13 (Prevenar 13®, comprising the additional serotypes: 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F and 19A) is indicated for the prevention of IPD, pneumonia and AOM caused by S. pneumoniae in infants and children from 6 weeks up to the age of 17 years and for IPD in individuals aged ≥18 years [23].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
