Publication

Direct and indirect impact of 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction on pneumonia hospitalizations and economic burden in all age groups in Brazil: A time-series analysis

Authored by:

Andrade AL, Afonso ET, Minamisava R et al.

Full Citation:

Andrade AL, Afonso ET, Minamisava R et al. 2017. Direct and indirect impact of 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction on pneumonia hospitalizations and economic burden in all age groups in Brazil: A time-series analysis. PLoS One. 12(9).

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Additional key concepts from this publication:

Herd effects multiply the benefits of immunization.

Key Evidence: Following the introduction of PCV-10 for infants in Brazil, which included catch-up vaccination for children 7-23 months old and achieved high coverage (82% increasing to 94% within 5 years), hospitalization rates for pneumonia from any cause declined over the next five years by 11-27% in persons 5-49 years of age, after adjusting for trends with other causes of hospitalization.

From the VoICE Editors: Note that the rate for the elderly (65+) increased by 15% over this period — a trend that preceded the introduction of the vaccine.

Use of vaccines, including strengthening existing immunization programs, provides opportunities for significant reductions in disease burden with resultant economic benefits.

Key Evidence: In a study using actual data on hospitalizations and costs before and after PCV-10 vaccine was introduced in Brazil, an estimated 463,000 hospitalizations from all causes of pneumonia were prevented in persons less than 65 years of age over 5 years following introduction of the vaccine — saving an estimated US$147 million in hospitalization costs. Half of the costs averted were due to fewer hospitalizations in children under five, who were targeted for the vaccine, while the remaining half were due to fewer hospitalizations in persons 5-49 years of age, as a result of herd protection.