Effectiveness of Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine for Preschool-Age Children with Chronic Disease
Author Information
Author(s): Anthony E. Fiore, Orin S. Levine, John A. Elliott, Richard R. Facklam, Jay C. Butler
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothesis
What is the effectiveness of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in children aged 2 to 5 years with chronic diseases?
Conclusion
The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine demonstrated an overall effectiveness of 63% in preventing invasive disease among children aged 2 to 5 years with chronic illnesses.
Supporting Evidence
- Vaccine effectiveness was 63% against invasive disease caused by serotypes included in the vaccine.
- Effectiveness was higher in children without sickle cell disease at 84%.
- Children with sickle cell disease had a lower effectiveness estimate of 62%.
Takeaway
The pneumococcal vaccine helps protect young children with chronic illnesses from serious infections, but it’s not perfect.
Methodology
The study analyzed data from a national surveillance system, comparing invasive pneumococcal disease cases in vaccinated and unvaccinated children aged 2 to 5 years.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of vaccine history could bias results towards showing no effect of vaccination.
Limitations
The accuracy of vaccine history may vary, and children with certain chronic diseases were not vaccinated, limiting effectiveness calculations.
Participant Demographics
173 children aged 2 to 5 years, 52% male, with various chronic illnesses including sickle cell disease.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.02
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 8% to 85%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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