Pneumococcal disease and vaccination in the Americas: an agenda for accelerated vaccine introduction

This piece summarizes the presentations and discussions at a meeting on pneumococcal disease surveillance in the Americas that was held in Mexico City, Mexico, on 2 November 2004. This meeting was organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Pneumococcal Vaccines Accelerated Development and Introduction Plan (PneumoADIP) of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). The meeting participants reviewed the status of pneumococcal disease surveillance in the Region of the Americas, estimates of the burden of pneumococcal disease, the distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes that cause invasive disease, the status of pneumococcal vaccine introduction, health economic analyses, and financial issues related to vaccine introduction. The meeting participants also worked to identify the next steps for generating the critical information needed to help make decisions on pneumococcal vaccine introduction. Coordinated pneumococcal disease surveillance for the Region of the Americas dates back to the 1993 establishment by PAHO of the Regional System for Vaccines (RSV) project for surveillance of bacterial meningitis and pneumonia, including pneumococcal disease. Surveillance data from the RSV indicate that the distribution of major serotypes in the Americas has been stable over time (but that antibiotic resistance is increasing), with serotype 14 being the leading serotype isolated in most countries participating in RSV. Based on local serotype data from six of the RSV countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay), the 7-valent vaccine would cover 65% of serotypes, the 9-valent vaccine would cover 77%, and the 11-valent vaccine would cover 83%.