Prevention options of pneumococcal disease in children

Overview

Pneumococcal infections are still an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children in the Czech Republic. The risk of pneumococcal infections and their complications depends on age and the presence of chronic diseases. The incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease in children is highest in infancy and gradually decreases with age. Even though vaccination has been introduced, there are still isolated child deaths. Since 2010, when reimbursed vaccination of infants was introduced, there has been a temporary decrease in vaccination coverage. Over the last period analyzed, an increase in vaccination coverage to 78% was recorded for children born in 2022. Since the introduction of reimbursed vaccination, multi-valent vaccines have been gradually registered, the reimbursement of which has not been fully reimbursed and a supplemental payment was required for these vaccines.

This year, another conjugate vaccine for children is entering our market, and at the same time, thanks to a change in legislation, all available vaccines against pneumococcal infections in children, including risk groups, are fully reimbursed.

Keywords:

invasive pneumococcal disease – vaccination coverage – pneumococcal vaccines – immunization schedule – risk groups in children