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Published on: February 23, 2014
Pneumococcal Vaccine Breakthrough and Failure in Infants and Children: A Narrative Review
Kristen Feemster1, Jessica Weaver1, Ulrike Buchwald1
1Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.
Insights
Pneumococcal vaccines significantly reduce disease, but some children still get sick due to vaccine failure or breakthrough. Understanding these cases is crucial for improving future immunization strategies against Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Vaccinology
- Immunology
Background:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae causes significant global child morbidity and mortality.
- Pediatric immunization programs have decreased invasive pneumococcal disease incidence.
- Vaccine breakthrough and failure remain challenges in pneumococcal disease control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review vaccine breakthrough and failure in pediatric Streptococcus pneumoniae infections.
- To discuss epidemiology, clinical presentation, and risk factors.
- To explore implications for future vaccine development.
Main Methods:
- Targeted literature review.
- Analysis of disease epidemiology and clinical presentation.
- Examination of risk factors, vaccination schedules, and serotypes.
Main Results:
- Residual vaccine-type pneumococcal disease occurs despite widespread vaccination.
- Factors influencing vaccine failure and breakthrough require further investigation.
- Understanding correlates of protection is key.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to address vaccine breakthrough and failure.
- Optimizing vaccination schedules and serotype selection is important.
- Insights can guide the development of next-generation pneumococcal vaccines.
Abstract:
Globally, Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable morbidity and mortality in infants and children. In recent decades, large-scale pediatric immunization programs have substantially reduced the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease. Despite this, residual vaccine-type pneumococcal disease remains in the form of vaccine breakthrough and vaccine failure. This targeted literature review aims to discuss aspects of vaccine breakthrough and failure in infants and children, including disease epidemiology, clinical presentation, risk factors, vaccination schedules, vaccine serotypes, correlates of protection, comorbidities, disease surveillance, and potential implications for future vaccine development.
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