A narrative review on the effectiveness of PPSV23 vaccination in adults in China

Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23) is available for free in some Chinese cities for elderly patients and those with comorbidities. However, there is a lack of studies summarizing its preventive effect specifically in Chinese adults. This review aims to discuss the epidemiology of pneumococcal disease, coverage and effectiveness of PPSV23 vaccination, elderly individuals and patients with comorbidities, coadministration of PPSV23 vaccine with other vaccines, and future directions for its use in China. It was found that the PPSV23 vaccination rate among the elderly ranged from 1.2% to 42.1% depending on location, with an effectiveness of 9.34%(95%CI: 2.05%, 16.62%) to 57.7%(95%CI: 20.7%, 77.5%). There is a need to raise awareness of pneumococcal disease and its prevention, especially in China. To better manage pneumococcal disease in China, developing new vaccines for common serotypes and continuously monitoring serotype distribution associated with the disease is also needed.