Effect of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccination on invasive pneumococcal disease in preterm born infants

Background: Evidence for protection of preterm born infants from
invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) by 7-valent pneumococcal
conjugate vaccination (PCV7) is relatively sparse. Data from
randomized trials is based on relatively small numbers of preterm
born children. Methods: We report data from active prospective
surveillance of IPD in children in Germany. The cohorts of preterm
born children in 2000 and 2007 and the respective whole birth
cohorts are compared regarding occurrence of IPD. Results: After
introduction of PCV7 we observed a reduction in the rate of IPD in
preterm born infants comparing the 2000 and 2007 birth cohort. The
rate of IPD among the whole birth cohorts was reduced from 15.0 to
8.5 notifications per 100,000 (P < .001). The impact among the
preterm birth cohort was comparable: A reduction in notification
rate from 26.1 to 16.7 per 100,000 comparing the 2000 with the 2007
preterm birth cohort (P = .39). Preterm born infants with IPD were
either unvaccinated or vaccinated delayed or incomplete.
Conclusions: This adds to evidence that PCV7 also protects preterm
born infants effectively from IPD. Preterm born infants should
receive pneumococcal vaccination according to their chronological
age.