[The debate in Italy and in Europe about the adoption of pneumococcal vaccine in children].
Since the introduction of the conjugate vaccine PnC-7, for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal infections for at-risk children, a controversy has arisen about the need for a universal vaccination under the age of two years. This article reviews the pathogenesis and the changing epidemiological pattern of pneumococcal diseases, the emergence of drug resistant S. pneumoniae and the costs and benefits of vaccination. Furthermore, the recommendations of various European countries and an up to date of the Italian ones are illustrated. It concludes with the public health perspective on the adoption of this pneumococcal vaccine and future recommendations for vaccination.
Maida
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Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva P. Marginesu, Università degli Studi di Sassari. igiene@uniss.it
D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy; D032541:Mass Vaccination; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000276:immunology
D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate