The 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20): expected added value

Currently existing pneumococcal vaccines have contributed to a major reduction in pneumococcal disease. However, there remains an unmet need for vaccine coverage of serotypes not included in PCV13 to further reduce the burden of disease. The objective of this review is to assess the potential impact of implementation of the investigational 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) in the childhood and adult immunization programme in Belgium and Europe.

A literature search was conducted to identify publications and surveillance reports concerning the effectiveness and safety of pneumococcal vaccines, epidemiological data on pneumococcal disease or serotype distribution dynamics after introduction of systematic vaccination.

Serotypes included in PCV20 currently account for the majority of pneumococcal disease in Belgium and Europe. In Belgium, PCV20-serotypes accounted for 71.4% of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) cases across all age groups in 2019, of which 39.2% were caused by PCV20-non-PCV13-serotypes. In Europe, these seven serotypes accounted for 37,6% of IPD cases in 2018.  PCV20 has proven to be well tolerated in vaccine-naïve adults and elicits a substantial immune response against all serotypes included.

Due to serotype replacement following the introduction of PCV7 and PCV13, a considerable proportion of pneumococcal disease is currently caused by PCV20-serotypes. PCV20 has the potential of preventing more pneumococcal disease in children and the adult population at risk than the existing conjugate vaccines. The available evidence on safety and immunogenicity of PCV20 is promising, but further research is needed to provide data about vaccine effectiveness, immune response duration and replacement phenomenon after introduction of PCV20.