Data obtained through active surveillance pre and post introduction of PCV in the US showed that the vaccine averted an estimated 38,000 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease within its first five years of use. Additionally, 71,000 cases of disease were estimated to be prevented by herd effects.
United States
Cancer survivors experience much higher complications from vaccine-preventable infections
In survivors of pediatric and young adult cancers in the US, the risk of mortality from infectious complications is 4 times higher than in their cancer-naïve siblings. Within the first five years after cancer diagnosis, the risk of some vaccine-preventable infections such as pneumonia and hepatitis is more than 9-fold and 6-fold higher, respectively. More than 5 years after cancer diagnosis, the risk of these two infections remains high at 3.7 and 2.5 times higher than siblings.
Higher vaccine coverage for some vaccines was associated with a lower risk of developing a specific type of leukemia
A study including thousands of children from the U.S. state of Texas found that children born in counties with high coverage of HepB, Polio, and Hib vaccines were 33%, 37%, and 42% less likely to develop a specific type of leukemia than children born in counties with lower coverage of each vaccine.
Influenza vaccine during pregnancy is linked to lower rates of prematurity and small for gestational age births
This study, conducted in the United States, demonstrates an association between immunization with the inactivated influenza vaccine during pregnancy and reduced likelihood of prematurity during local, regional, and widespread influenza activity periods. Moreover, during the period of widespread influenza activity there was an association between maternal receipt of influenza vaccine and reduced likelihood of small for gestational age (SGA) birth.
Long-term cancer survivors have an increased risk of later HPV infections
In a US-based study of more than 65,000 long-term survivors of pediatric and young adult cancers spanning nearly three decades, researchers found an increased risk of later HPV infections and malignancies among these survivors. Female survivors of childhood and young adult cancers were found to have a 40% greater chance of developing HPV-associated malignancies compared to cancer-naïve females. This risk was even greater in male cancer survivors who had a 150% relative excess of HPV malignancies compared to cancer-naive males.
Measles infection suppresses the immune system for up to 3 years after infection
In a study of data from England & Wales, Denmark, and the US, it was shown that measles infection suppresses the immune system for up to 3 years after infection, increasing the risk of death due to other childhood infections during that time. This means that prevention of measles significantly impacts overall health during critical childhood years.
Cancer patients are at greater risk of vaccine-preventable infections
A study in the US found that the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease was 22 to 38 times higher in adults with cancer than in healthy adults.
Large study in California finds significant reduction in need for antibiotics in vaccinated children
In a study evaluating the impact of PCV7 on 40,000 recipients and control subjects in northern California revealed that the vaccine could significantly decrease the need for antibiotics to treat the disease. The children who had received the vaccine displayed a 5.4% reduction in the number of antibiotic prescriptions and a 12.6% reduction in the use of “second-line antibiotics” compared to the controls. Additionally, when looking at children in the time period between their first dose and attainment of the age of 3.5 years, receiving the vaccine had prevented 35 antibiotic prescriptions per 100 fully vaccinated children.
Vaccines can help control the spread of antibiotic resistance
The US CDC identifies the use of vaccines as one of the 4 critical steps for controlling the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Vaccination can save millions of dollars by preventing antibiotic resistant infections
The US CDC estimates that antibiotic resistant pneumococcal infections in the US add $96 million to the costs of treatment each year.