Recommendations for Pneumococcal Immunization Outside Routine Childhood Immunization Programs in Western Europe

Abstract

The global burden of pneumococcal diseases is high, with young children and adults ≥50 years of age at highest risk of infection. Two types of vaccine are available for the prevention of pneumococcal diseases caused by specific Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes: the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7, PCV10, and PCV13). Despite pneumococcal immunization programs in adults and children, the burden in adults has remained high. Most European countries have national or local/regional vaccination recommendations. The objective of this review was to provide an overview of the government recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination outside routine childhood vaccination programs for 16 Western European countries as of August 2014. We found that recommendations for pneumococcal immunization across Europe are complex and vary greatly among countries in terms of age groups and risk groups recommended for vaccination, as well as which vaccine should be administered. Clarifying or simplifying these recommendations and improving their dissemination could help to increase pneumococcal vaccine uptake and decrease the high burden of pneumococcal diseases in adults, both through a direct effect of the vaccine and via a herd effect in unvaccinated individuals.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12325-014-0157-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Vacinação Contra Infeções por Streptococcus pneumoniae em Crianças e Adolescentes de Alto Risco para Doença Invasiva Pneumocócica

“…A classificação de alto risco para DIP foi baseada nos códigos de diagnóstico do ICD-9-CM, de acordo com as patologias de alto risco definidas na circular normativa nº 12 …”

Pneumococcal vaccination coverages among low-, intermediate-, and high-risk adults in Catalonia

“…We note that, at present, recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination in adults are not homogeneous in distinct countries, scientific societies and/or clinical guidelines. 6,14,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27] Some countries recommend routine PPSV23 vaccination for all persons 65 y of age, (with or without risk conditions), other countries recommend vaccination starting at a younger age, and others recommend PPSV23 only for at-risk groups. 17,26,27 In addition, there is also heterogeneity for PCV13 recommendations and funding for adults in distinct settings.…”

“…6,14,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27] Some countries recommend routine PPSV23 vaccination for all persons 65 y of age, (with or without risk conditions), other countries recommend vaccination starting at a younger age, and others recommend PPSV23 only for at-risk groups. 17,26,27 In addition, there is also heterogeneity for PCV13 recommendations and funding for adults in distinct settings. 6,22,23,27 These concerns greatly difficult the comparison of vaccination coverages between distinct countries.…”

“…17,26,27 In addition, there is also heterogeneity for PCV13 recommendations and funding for adults in distinct settings. 6,22,23,27 These concerns greatly difficult the comparison of vaccination coverages between distinct countries. In Spain, revaccination is recommended for those persons who received PPSV23 before the age of 65 for any indication, but routine revaccination with PPSV23 is not recommended among the general people over 65 y because of insufficient data on clinical benefits and the duration of protection.…”

Pneumococcal Vaccine as One of the Immunization Coverage Targets For Adulthood Vaccines: A Consensus Report of the Study Group For Adult Immunization of the Turkish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

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