Potential impact of accelerating the primary dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in infants.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the potential effect of the acceleration of administration of the first dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine from 2 months to 6 weeks of age.


METHODS
Prediction model using data from a retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Published data from 8 states that participated in Active Bacterial Core Surveillance of the Emerging Infections Program Network for pneumococcus before pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction (July 1, 1997- June 30, 2000).


METHODS
A total of 759 739 live births under surveillance. Intervention Estimating the potential benefit of administration of the first dose of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine at 6 weeks of age instead of 2 months of age.


METHODS
Estimation of reduction in the rate of invasive pneumococcal disease in infants 61 to 90 days of age.


RESULTS
The estimated direct effect of the acceleration of administration of the first dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine from 2 months to 6 weeks of age when this vaccine was first introduced could have reduced the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease in infants 61 to 90 days of age by 39.9%, 56.0%, and 72.1% for respective vaccine efficacies of 50%, 70%, and 90%. This translates into preventing an estimated 73, 103, and 133 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease per year among approximately 4 112 052 live births in the United States.


CONCLUSIONS
The acceleration of administration of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine from 2 months to 6 weeks of age could reduce the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease among infants. This observation may be important when a new conjugate vaccine becomes available, particularly among populations with prevalent invasive pneumococcal disease from a serotype included in the new vaccine.
Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
Jennifer M
JM
Stancil
Timothy R
TR
Peters
Laurence B
LB
Givner
Katherine A
KA
Poehling
D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines