Pneumococcal Disease Burden Still Substantial In Children Younger Than 48 Months, Despite Decrease In Incidence, Study Finds

Infectious Disease Advisor (5/8, Kuhns) reports, “Although the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease, all-cause pneumonia, and acute otitis media (AOM) has decreased in children aged 48 months and younger, the burden of pneumococcal disease remains substantial in this population. These study results were published in Vaccine.” According to the study, “in children who were commercially insured, the overall annual incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease declined from 53 to 7 episodes per 100,000 person-years between 1998 and 2019.” And “in children insured by Medicaid, the overall annual incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease declined from 58 to 9 episodes per 100,000 person-years between 2001 and 2019.”