Evaluation of the ability of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to reduce the occurrence of respiratory infections and the resultant antibiotic drug use was conducted among day care attendees in Israel. It was observed that children who had received the 9-valent conjugate vaccine showed a 17% overall reduction in antibiotic usage. In particular, a 10% reduction in days of antibiotic usage for upper respiratory tract infections, 47% fewer days of antibiotic usage for lower respiratory tract infections, and 20% fewer days of antibiotic usage for otitis media (ear infections) when compared to children who did not receive PCV.
Pneumococcal disease/PCV/PPSV
PCV introduction may indirectly protect HIV-infected parents from antibiotic resistant microorganisms
Among both HIV positive and HIV negative parents in a study in Kenya, 99% of pneumococcal strains found and tested were resistant to one or more antibiotics. HIV positive parents carried 16% more strains that were resistant to penicillin than those carried by HIV negative parents.
Pneumococcal carriage in infants associated with growth deficits
In a study conducted in Southern India, pneumococcal carriage at age 2 months was associated with a 3-fold risk of stunting and decreased weight, length, and length-for-age by 6 months of age. Pneumococcal carriage at 4 months of age did not affect growth.
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.
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.
Funding a national pneumonia vaccine program increased vaccine coverage among the elderly
A publicly funded 23vPPV (23 valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine) program in Victoria, Australia not only dramatically increased vaccination coverage among the elderly in the public purchase program, but in other Australian states and territories that did not have a public program, the number of prescriptions issued for 23vPPV actually increased over the same period.