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Infants

Lifesaving Potential of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines Estimated at Almost 700,000 Lives

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A new study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) has found that pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) could save almost 700,000 children's lives between their introduction in 2000 and 2030. This would be equivalent to the average number of babies born in the UK each year. The study's findings highlight the urgent need to ramp up vaccine coverage worldwide, with the researchers estimating that increasing coverage to levels seen with other vaccines could prevent an additional 146,000 deaths.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new study estimates that PCVs could save almost 700,000 children's lives between 2000 and 2030, equivalent to the average number of babies born in the UK each year.
  • The study found that delays in vaccine roll-out and low coverage achieved in some countries have resulted in PCVs failing to achieve their full potential in preventing deaths.
  • Increasing vaccine coverage to levels seen with other vaccines, such as the DTP vaccine, could prevent an additional 146,000 deaths.
  • The analysis modelled the impact of PCVs given to children aged 5 and under across 112 countries, updating a previous analysis with new data from low- and middle-income countries.
  • The researchers found that saving a year of a child's life by using a pneumococcal vaccine would only cost the same as $851USD worth of goods in 2015.
  • The study was conducted as part of the Vaccine Impact Modelling Consortium, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
  • The modelling assumed level coverage across each country, and further research is needed to collect figures on a more localised level to help tailor potential interventions.
  • Jennifer Dungca, Media Relations, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, +44 (0)20 7927 2802; [j.dungca@lshtm.ac.uk](mailto:j.dungca@lshtm.ac.uk) (uk time GMT) | Cynthia Chen Huijun, researcher at Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and lead author of the study.

Statistics:

  • 700,000: The estimated number of children's lives that could be saved with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) between 2000 and 2030.
  • 5%: The estimated percentage of pneumococcal deaths that PCVs could have prevented by 2030 since their introduction in 2000.
  • 146,000: The estimated number of additional deaths that could be prevented by increasing vaccine coverage to levels seen with other vaccines, such as the DTP vaccine.
  • 112: The number of countries across which the analysis modelled the impact of PCVs given to children aged 5 and under.
  • $851USD: The cost of saving a year of a child's life by using a pneumococcal vaccine, equivalent to the value of goods in 2015.

Sources:

  • The Lancet Global Health: "Expanded use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines could save almost 700,000 children" (Sciencedirect)
  • London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine: "New research finds expanding use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines could save almost 700,000 children's lives between 2000 and 2030" (Press Release)

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