New Pneumonia Strains Emerge In Alaska Native Children
According to a new study, Alaska Native children are experiencing increased rates of serious infections because of vaccine-resistant strains of pneumococcus bacteria that are not covered by the current childhood pneumococcal vaccine.
Rosalyn J. Singleton, M.D., M.P.H., of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Anchorage, and colleagues evaluated IPD in Alaska children for evidence of the emergence of nonvaccine serotype disease. The researchers conducted a statewide population-based laboratory surveillance of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infections (such as pneumonia, meningitis, or bacteremia [bacteria in the blood stream]) from January 1, 1995, through December 31, 2006.
Before introduction of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), Alaska Native children and adults experienced high rates of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) compared with non?Native Alaskans. Introduction of PCV7 into the routine childhood vaccination schedule in 2001 resulted in decreases in vaccine-type IPD and consequent decreases in all IPD among U.S. children, according to background information in the article.
"The rapid success of PCV7 in Alaska has led to the near elimination of PCV7-serotype disease and elimination of a health disparity for types covered by the vaccine. However, for Alaska Native children there now exists a substantially elevated risk for IPD from serotypes not contained in PCV7. The demonstration of replacement IPD in Alaska Native children may signify a limit to the usefulness of the currently available vaccine and emphasizes the importance of development of extended valency vaccines or vaccines not dependent on serotype-specific prevention. These data also highlight the value of continued surveillance and other epidemiological investigations to monitor the effects of pneumococcal vaccines," the authors conclude.
According to a new study, Alaska Native children are experiencing increased rates of serious infections because of vaccine-resistant strains of pneumococcus bacteria that are not covered by the current childhood pneumococcal vaccine.
Rosalyn J. Singleton, M.D., M.P.H., of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Anchorage, and colleagues evaluated IPD in Alaska children for evidence of the emergence of nonvaccine serotype disease. The researchers conducted a statewide population-based laboratory surveillance of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infections (such as pneumonia, meningitis, or bacteremia [bacteria in the blood stream]) from January 1, 1995, through December 31, 2006.
Before introduction of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), Alaska Native children and adults experienced high rates of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) compared with non?Native Alaskans. Introduction of PCV7 into the routine childhood vaccination schedule in 2001 resulted in decreases in vaccine-type IPD and consequent decreases in all IPD among U.S. children, according to background information in the article.
"The rapid success of PCV7 in Alaska has led to the near elimination of PCV7-serotype disease and elimination of a health disparity for types covered by the vaccine. However, for Alaska Native children there now exists a substantially elevated risk for IPD from serotypes not contained in PCV7. The demonstration of replacement IPD in Alaska Native children may signify a limit to the usefulness of the currently available vaccine and emphasizes the importance of development of extended valency vaccines or vaccines not dependent on serotype-specific prevention. These data also highlight the value of continued surveillance and other epidemiological investigations to monitor the effects of pneumococcal vaccines," the authors conclude.