Pneumococcal disease is an infection which is caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Most people carry pneumococcus in the throat and nose where the bacteria do not cause symptoms. However, bacteria can spread and grow to other parts of the body, causing people to get sick. In addition to pneumonia, this bacteria can cause sinus infections, ear infections, bactermia which is infections in the blood as well as meningitis which means infections in the tissues that line the spinal cord and brain.
What is Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCVS)?
PCV is primarily designed to address the low immunogenicity of polysaccharide vaccines problem in children who are under the age of 2 and are at high risk of developing pneumococcal infections. Binding of different serotypes of pneumococcal polysaccharide was performed using CRM197 protein, protein D from unencapsulated Hib, DT and TT, and finally meningitis external member protein (OMP). The only PCV approved so far in India is CRM197PnC7v (hereinafter referred to as PCV7, Pfizer), which contains polysaccharide antigens of serotypes 6B, 4, 14, 9V, 19F, 18C and 23F in combination with CRM197.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India
Pneumococcal infections is greatest among underprivileged children in India. Therefore, PCV is a public health concern and should ideally be available to all children. However, the high cost of PCV and the limited coverage of currently available vaccines are obstacles. GAVI proposes to provide PCV to India and include it in the national vaccination schedule at a cost of US $ 0.15-0.3 per dose and promises to extend this support until 2015. 11. Healthy children over the age, and therefore the benefits of vaccination against these children may be less. Vaccination with a single dose of PCV vaccine may be considered for children aged 2-5 years15. Vaccination against pneumococcal bacteria is not recommended for children over 5 years of age. The recommended dose of PCV13 is 0.5 ml and vaccination is given intramuscularly.
Schedule for Vaccines
The Indian Paediatrics Academy recommends 3 doses after 6, 10 and 14 weeks and additional doses after 15 months. Infants 11 months old who received the first dose should be given PCV13 three times at intervals of about 4 weeks and boosted after 15 months. Children 12 to 23 months should take 2 doses, with an interval of at least 8 weeks. Healthy, unvaccinated children aged 24-59 months should receive a single dose of PCV13. Infants younger than 24 months should receive at least one dose, depending on the number of PCV7 doses received and child?s age. A single dose of PCV13 is recommended for all children who are aged between 14-59 months.
