Pneumococcal serotyping for surveillance of invasive pneumococcal diseases in Singapore, 2011

Epidemiological characteristics associated with uptake of pneumococcal vaccine among older adults living in the community in Singapore: Results from the National Health Surveillance Survey 2013

“…In Singapore, the Expert Committee on Immunisation (ECI) for the Ministry of Health (MOH) recommended a targeted approach of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations in specific high-risk groups. The 7-valent PCV was introduced in the National Childhood Immunization Programme in October 2009, followed by the PCV13 in December 2011 [13]. In 2013, the ECI further recommended one dose of PPV23 for persons aged ≥65 years and those aged 2–64 years who are at increased risk of developing severe pneumococcal disease.…”

Genetic diversity of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing meningitis and sepsis in Singapore during the first year of PCV7 implementation

“…The National Public Health Laboratory and KK Women & Children's Hospital in Singapore, reported to the Ministry of Health in Singapore that the most common pneumococcal serotypes found in IPD cases in year 2010–2011 in paediatric cases (exact age not reported) were serotypes 19A (40%), 14 (15%) and 6B (13%), while in adults, the diversity of serotypes found was greater and the most common found were: serotype 3 (13%), 14 (10%), 19A (10%) and 8 (10%). 10 Later, Thoon et al 34 reported the changes in most common serotypes found in children population in KK Women & Children's hospital, highlighting the increase in invasive disease caused by serotypes 19A. In our dataset, only 12 IPD isolates from children under the age of five years old were available, most common being 6B, 19A and 14.…”

“…Studies investigating the prevalence of serotypes, genotypes and antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal isolates in IPD in Singaporean children and adult populations were reported previously. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 The seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7)—Prevnar (Pfizer, New York, USA) covers serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F, and has been available on demand in Singapore since its approval in 2005 11 and was added to the childhood immunization programme in October 2009. 11 , 12 , 13 Other available pneumococcal vaccines are PCV10—Synflorix (GlaxoSmithKline, Bentford, UK) that includes PCV7 serotypes and serotypes 1, 5 and 7F; and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV-23)—Pneumovax 23 (Merck, New Jersey, USA) which consists of pure polysaccharides of 23 pneumococcal serotypes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 8, 9N, 9V, 10A, 11A, 12F, 14, 15B, 17F, 18C, 19A, 19F, 20, 22F, 23F, 33F).…”