Pneumonia vaccination coverage among children in Spain exceeds 95 percent, a figure that contrasts markedly with the percentage of elderly people and people with chronic diseases receiving this vaccination, which ranges from only 40 to 50 percent depending on the independent community, as detailed by the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain (RANME) in the framework of World Pneumonia Day. Academic Angel Gil warned, according to information published by Europa Press, that this gap in coverage is linked to a high rate of hospitalizations and deaths among the elderly and vulnerable groups due to complications associated with pneumonia.
Pneumonia causes the death of nearly 10,000 people annually in Spain, most of them among the population over the age of 60 or 70, according to the media. Although in most cases the infection is managed in primary care and responds to antibiotic treatment, in 25 percent of cases — especially among older adults or people with chronic diseases — the disease worsens, requires hospitalization and leads to invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), which has a mortality rate of up to 15 percent, Gill explained.
Europe Press reported that during a scientific session jointly organized by the Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) and the head of its Vaccinology Department, with support from Pfizer, specialists insisted on the need to strengthen prevention through awareness campaigns and the use of the latest generation of conjugate vaccines, capable of covering the main serotypes circulating. “Pneumococcal disease is best prevented by appropriate and systematic vaccination,” stressed Ruth Gil Brito, Director of the Vaccinology Division at URJC, highlighting the benefits to be achieved by immunization levels in adults similar to those achieved in infants.
Professor Gil Brito stressed the importance of directing communication efforts not only to the elderly and vulnerable groups, but also to health workers and caregivers, using clear messages about the risks of the disease and the benefits of immunization. He added that some regions have begun implementing improved registration systems and issuing reminders to residents via various means, such as emails, SMS or regular mail, which has led to positive results in improving coverage.
European Press media highlighted the recommendation to co-administer pneumococcal and influenza vaccines for older people, as long as the vaccination schedule allows for this. Ruth Gil Brito also pointed out the importance of promoting healthy habits, a balanced diet, avoiding tobacco consumption, and maintaining good control of chronic diseases to reduce the incidence of pneumonia.
Marisa Navarro, head of the Infectious Diseases Department at the Pediatric Service at Gregorio Marañón University Hospital in Madrid, presented figures on the impact of this disease on childhood. According to Europe Press, every year around the world there are more than 150 million cases of pneumonia in children under the age of five, with 700,000 associated deaths, which represents about 14% of the total number of deaths of children in that age group, exceeded only by deaths of newborns.
Child deaths from pneumonia in Spain, according to Europa Press, remain at 0.3 per 100,000 children, a statistic attributed to a high vaccination rate, access to health care, adequate nutrition, and a low prevalence of serious concomitant infections among children. In contrast, in countries with fewer resources, the death rate from pneumococcal pneumonia among children is 27 per 1,000, media reported.
In statements reported by Europa Press, Navarro noted that the use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines – first PCV7 and later PCV13 – led to a significant reduction in the incidence of invasive and non-invasive pneumococcal disease. Currently, the circulation of some serotypes not covered by PCV13 has stimulated the adoption of new formulations such as PCV15 and PCV20, whose protection against emerging serotypes has been expanded.
The VNC15 and VNC20 vaccines, which have replaced VNC13 in various independent populations, increase the spectrum against pneumococcal variants. PCV15 includes serotypes PCV13 as well as 22F and 33F; PCV20, for its part, provides additional coverage for serotypes 8, 10A, 11A, 12F and 15B/C, thus covering 68 percent of the serotypes currently circulating among children under five years of age, compared to the 20 percent covered by PCV13 and 40 percent of PCV15.
Specialist Navarro noted, quoted by Europa Press, that optimal protection for patients with weak immunity or children with risk factors requires the use of VNC20, which replaced the previous VPN23 polysaccharide vaccine. Although this provided protection against a large number of serotypes, it resulted in a less robust and less sustained immune response over time.
Preventing pneumonia through vaccination, timely diagnosis, accurate health records and promoting healthy lifestyles are part of the strategies recommended by the experts gathered at the scientific conference, Europe Press reflected. The challenge remains to increase immunization rates among the elderly and people with chronic diseases to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates associated with these infections.
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