Peer-reviewed article
Introduction of pneumococcal vaccine in national immunisation schedule in India: boon or bane?
Ranjeeta Nayak ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This review examines the introduction of pneumococcal vaccine into India's national immunisation schedule, which began in selected states in 2017. The authors discuss the burden of pneumococcal disease, vaccine safety and efficacy, and cost-effectiveness considerations. They note that while pneumococcal infections are severe and antibiotic resistance is a concern, India lacks sufficient epidemiological data and effectiveness studies to fully justify widespread introduction. The review calls for more research on pneumococcal disease burden and serotype distribution in India before full national rollout.
Key points
- Pneumococcal vaccine was introduced in selected Indian states in 2017 with plans to scale up nationally
- Many developed countries have included pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in routine immunisation programmes due to severe infections and antibiotic resistance
- India lacks adequate data on the burden of pneumococcal infections and effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccines in developing country settings
- Limited studies exist on bacterial and viral causes of community-acquired pneumonia in India and changes in serotype prevalence over time
- The review emphasizes need for substantial clinical and epidemiological evidence before full national introduction of the vaccine
Limitations
This is a review article that synthesizes existing literature rather than presenting new primary data. It does not provide specific numbers on disease burden, vaccine effectiveness rates, or cost-benefit analyses for India, making it impossible to draw definitive conclusions about whether the vaccine introduction was justified.
Abstract
Vaccination is undoubtedly one of the most cost-effective child survival public health measure which are more affordable and accessible to community in preventing diseases. Government of India has undertaken several initiatives to strengthen maternal and child health services in the country and child immunisation being an important part of child healthcare system in India. The National Immunization Programme has taken many initiatives since its inception as Expanded Programme on Immunization in 1978. In recent years, there has been introduction of various newer vaccines. Introduction of pneumococcal vaccine in selected states in year 2017 and plan to scale up in the entire country is the newest change in National Immunization Schedule. This review aims to identify various articles related to pneumococcal infection and vaccine highlighting the burden, serotypic distribution, available vaccines, evidence regarding vaccine safety, efficacy, acceptability and cost effectiveness, in order to provide sufficient understanding on the demand and need of this vaccine in India. Important factors underpinned by this article are though there is a need of vaccination due to severe form of pneumococcal infections and antibiotic resistance due to which many developed countries have included PCV in their regular immunisation programmes, however studies regarding effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccines in developing countries like India, data regarding the burden of pneumococcal infections are not available. Also there are limited studies investigating the bacterial and viral etiology of Community Acquired Pneumonia and lack of data to show change in the serotype prevalence overtime. This review highlights the need of more research to provide substantial clinical and epidemiological evidence for the introduction of pneumococcal vaccine.