Publication

Indirect effects of pneumococcal childhood vaccination in individuals treated with immunosuppressive drugs in ambulatory care: a case-cohort study

Authored by:

Steens A, Winje BA, White RA et al.

Full Citation:

Steens A, Winje BA, White RA et al. 2019. Indirect effects of pneumococcal childhood vaccination in individuals treated with immunosuppressive drugs in ambulatory care: a case-cohort study. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 68(8).

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Additional key concepts from this publication:

Immunosuppressive treatments can increase the risk and severity of a range of potentially vaccine-preventable infections.

Key Evidence: Even though the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease declined in all groups, including individuals on immunosuppressive drugs, following the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines for infants in Norway, people on chemotherapy were still 20 times more likely to get IPD than individuals not on any immunosuppressants, while individuals on long-term corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs were around 6 times more likely to get the disease.

Herd effects multiply the benefits of immunization.

Key Evidence: A large study in Norway found that the overall incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) declined significantly in individuals on immunosuppressive drugs following the introduction of PCVs for infants — and most significantly in people undergoing chemotherapy. These findings underscore the benefits that childhood vaccination with PCVs affords the entire population.