Where do we Stand After PCV13 Vaccine Introduction?

Abstract

Conjugate anti-pneumococcal vaccines are available in routine practice for over two decades now. They have enabled tremendous progress to be achieved in the prevention of severe Streptococcus pneumoniae infections in both children and the elderly. S. pneumoniae is a complex bacterium that has over 90 capsular serotypes each with specific virulence. The advent of PCV13 after PCV7 was expected to further reduce the burden of pneumococcal infections as non-vaccine serotypes started emerging a few years after PCV7 was introduced. Even though much has been achieved and several lives saved, we are faced, in recent years, with cases of Vaccine Break Through (VBT) and Failure (VF).Through this overview, clinicians are reminded that some vaccine serotypes are less immunogenic, therefore, wellvaccinated children may present with severe S. pneumoniae infections as shown by several reports.We believe that reporting all cases of VBT and VF is of utmost importance as it would strengthen our epidemiological knowledge and aid in public health policy decisionmaking processes.