Vaccine Reduces Pneumococcal Infections in Children

A study has found that children in day-care centers vaccinated with a new pneumococcal conjugate vaccine not only experience fewer pneumococcal illnesses but are also less likely to be carriers and infect their siblings. Children are major carriers as well as victims of pneumococcal disease, which includes meningitis, pneumonia, blood poisoning, and ear infection. The study, conducted by Ron Dagan, M.D., a professor of pediatrics and infectious diseases at Ben-Gurion University (Israel), were presented at the 40th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in Toronto (Canada).

The study involved 264 children, aged 12 to 35 months. Half were given the trial vaccine and half were given the control vaccine. For each group, 24 siblings who were not in day care were identified. The study showed a 15% reduction in all respiratory tract infections, a 17% reduction of otitis media, and a 20% reduction in antibiotic use for lower respiratory infection. Just as important is the fact that only 16-21% of siblings of the vaccine users tested positive for various pneumococcal strains, compared to 32-41% of control group siblings. The vaccine used in the study was a nine-valent pneumococcal conjugate, developed by Wyeth Lederle Vaccines.

The vaccine helps us prevent illness in even more children than we previously knew, said Dr. Dagan. That's great news, especially because the pneumococcus bacteria is becoming frighteningly resistant to antibiotic treatment.