Ten years of experience with the pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D-conjugate vaccine (Synflorix) in children

Abstract

Introduction: Pneumococcal diseases (including pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis) are among the leading vaccine-preventable causes of death in under-5-year-olds. Pneumococci are also one of the main bacterial pathogens associated with acute otitis media (AOM). Infant immunization programs with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have led to stark reductions in pneumococcal disease rates. Areas covered: We summarized the development of the pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D-conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) and evidence of its protective effect in children, since its licensure one decade ago. We highlighted the most recent data from post-licensure studies on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), pneumonia and AOM and from health economic evaluations. We present results from a model estimating PHiD-CV’s impact on pneumococcal-related deaths. Expert opinion: Recent data from post-licensure studies confirm the previously demonstrated positive impact of PHiD-CV on IPD, pneumonia, AOM and AOM-related interventions (e.g., antibiotic use). Despite the success of infant PHiD-CV (and other PCV) programs, pneumococcal diseases still pose a substantial public health burden. Further reducing this burden will require improving access to currently available PCVs, increasing vaccination coverage and addressing the remaining burden due to non-vaccine serotypes. Future availability of lower-cost PCVs, PCVs with a broader serotype coverage and serotype-independent vaccines may contribute to this.