# 4739
Given the nearly constant vitriol spewed on the internet by activists railing against the use of vaccines, it is worth giving the other side a bit of the spotlight from time to time.
The PCV7 (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) was introduced in the United States for children in early 2000, and was designed to help prevent 7 common types of pneumococcal infection found in the United States.
This year, the new PCV13 replaces the original PCV7, and adds coverage for 6 more types of pneumococcal bacteria.
The CDC has a factsheet on this new vaccine.
While this vaccine doesn’t prevent all types of pneumococcal infections, according to the CDC the introduction of the PCV7 vaccine in the United States has reduced the rate of severe pneumococcal disease by nearly 80% among children under the age of 5.
The UK introduced the PCV7 vaccine in 2006, after seeing an unexpected increase in hospitalizations for bacterial pneumonia and empyema (infection and pus in pleural space) among young children.
Today we’ve a study showing that between 1997 and 2006 the rates of childhood bacterial pneumonia and
empyema hospital admissions in the UK were steadily increasing, and then began to decrease (by 19% and 22%, respectively) after the inclusion of the PCV7 vaccine into their national immunization program in 2006.
While not a panacea for pneumococcal disease, these results do show genuine progress is being made, and the hopes are that the new PCV13 will make further strides in the reduction of morbidity and mortality due to these bacterial infections.
The study is titled:
Elizabeth Koshy, Joanna Murray, Alex Bottle, Mike Sharland, Sonia Saxena
You can also read the press release from the Imperial College of London on this study.
Vaccine has cut child cases of bacterial pneumonia, says study
The number of children admitted to English hospitals with bacterial pneumonia decreased by a fifth in the 2 years following the introduction of a vaccine to combat the disease
While the PCV7 and PCV13 vaccines are intended for children, I would note that there is an adult 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) available as well.
For several years I’ve urged my readers to talk to their doctors about whether this vaccine is appropriate for them.
CDC Issues Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations
Seven Steps You Can Take Now To Prepare For A Pandemic
It Doesn't Have To Be Pandemic Flu
It isn’t universally recommended by the CDC, but for many people in a variety of risk groups, it can be an important preventative against many causes of secondary bacterial pneumonias.
Even if you aren’t sure if you fall into one of the risk groups, you may wish to discuss this option with your family physician.
