Pneumococcal Diseases

Serious pneumococcal diseases are the #1 vaccine-preventable cause of death in children under 5.

WHO estimates that up to 1 million children under 5 die each year due to pneumococcal diseases.

Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus, are bacteria frequently found in the upper respiratory tract of healthy children and adults. However, these bacteria can also cause a range of infections – from relatively mild ear infections to fatal pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. Serious pneumococcal infections occur throughout life, but young children (especially those < 2 years old) and the elderly are at the highest risk for severe pneumococcal disease.

In 2007, WHO issued a recommendation for the introduction of pneumococcal vaccines into immunization programs in developing countries to save millions of lives, starting with the currently available 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

In 2000, a new vaccine became available – a 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) – that is safe and effective in children under 2 years old. 10- and 13-valent formulations are in advanced stages of development. These vaccines are expected to prevent 60-80% of all serious pneumococcal infections in children worldwide. Routine pneumococcal immunization programs in North America and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine efficacy studies in Africa demonstrate that these vaccines have the potential to save millions of children.

Serious pneumococcal infections are a major global health problem and are vaccine-preventable. WHO estimates that more than 1.6 million people die every year from pneumococcal infections – primarily pneumonia and meningitis – including 800,000 to 1,000,000 children under five years old. 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines are safe and effective for adults and children over 2 years old and multi-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines are safe and effective for children under 2 years old.

Recognizing the heavy burden of pneumococcal disease in young children and the safety and efficacy of the PCV7 in this age group, WHO considers its inclusion in national immunization programmes as a priority, particularly in countries with under five mortality greater than 50 per 1000 live births, or greater than 50,000 child deaths annually. To read the full WHO Position Paper on pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for childhood immunization, click here.