A study published in The Cochrane Review this month concludes that pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV), already known to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and x-ray defined pneumonia, was also effective against child deaths.
The findings were based on a systematic review of the results of 6 randomized and controlled trials conducted in the US, Africa, Philippines, and Finland. Eighty percent of children were less likely to develop vaccine-type IPD, 58% all-serotype IPD, and 27% x-ray defined pneumonia than children who did not receive the vaccine. Eleven percent of child deaths were also prevented. In total, 113,044 children were included in the six trials - 57,015 children in the PCV group and 56,029 in the control group.
"Pneumococcal disease is driving a global health crisis, particularly in the developing world," said Marilla G. Lucero of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and primary author of the study. "This study underscores the value of vaccines in preventing this deadly disease and saving children's lives."
Pneumococcal disease, or Streptoccoccus pneumoniae, is a leading cause of pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis and other life-threatening ailments. It takes the lives of 1.6 million people each year, including more than 800,000 children despite the existence of safe and effective vaccines to prevent it. Ninety-five percent of child pneumococcal deaths occur in the developing world, largely unreached by the existing vaccines as yet.