Background: The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV7) was introduced to the Israeli national immunization plan (NIP) in July 2009, with a fast reduction of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by PCV7 serotypes. Starting in November 2010, PCV13 gradually replaced PCV7.
Aim: To report the impact of PCV7/PCV13 sequential introduction on IPD in Israeli children <5 years.
Methods: An ongoing nationwide, prospective, population-based, active surveillance. All IPD episodes (S. pneumoniae isolated from blood and/or CSF) from July 2004 through June 2013 were included.
Results: Overall, 2,670 IPD episodes were recorded. Incidence of IPD caused by PCV7+6A serotypes during the PCV13 period vs. pre-PCV period decreased by 95% (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR] =0.05; 95% CI = 0.03-0.09). This reduction was observed in a two-step manner: 90% in the PCV7-period and further 5% in the PCV13-period. The rates of IPD caused by the 5 additional PCV13-serotypes (1, 3, 5, 7F, 19A; 5VT) increased initially by 47%, but subsequently decreased by 79%, resulting in an overall 70% reduction during the entire study period (IRR=0.30; 0.21-0.44). A two-fold increase in non-PCV13 serotypes IPD was observed (IRR=2.43; 1.73-3.66). In total, a 63% reduction of all-serotype IPD episodes was observed in children <5 years (69% and 48% in children <2 and 2-4 years old, respectively).
Conclusions: After initiation of PCV NIP, a rapid and substantial 2-step IPD reduction was observed in children <5 years. The serotype-specific rate reduction reflected PCV7/PCV13 sequential introduction.
