Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction in Latin America and the Caribbean: progress and lessons learned

ABSTRACT

In Latin America and the Caribbean, pneumococcus has been estimated to cause 12,000-28,000 deaths, 182,000 hospitalizations, and 1.4 million clinic visits annually. Countries in the Americas have been among the first developing nations to introduce pneumococcal conjugate vaccines into their Expanded Programs on Immunization, with 34 countries and territories having introduced these vaccines as of September 2015. Lessons learned for successful vaccine introduction include the importance of coordination between political and technical decision makers, adjustments to the cold chain prior to vaccine introduction, and the need for detailed plans addressing the financial and technical sustainability of introduction. Though many questions on the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine remain unanswered, the experience of the Americas suggests that the vaccines can be introduced quickly and effectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Pneumococcus
• new vaccines
• pneumonia
• surveillance
• pneumococcal conjugate vaccines

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Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the contributions of the 22 countries and territories that participated in the workshop to identify lessons learned related to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction. Additionally, the authors acknowledge the national immunization officers and health workers throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, whose dedication and efforts have made the introduction of these life-saving vaccines possible. Lastly, the authors thank Ms. Carilu Pacis for preparing Figure 1.

Disclaimer

References to commercial products do not constitute endorsement by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization.

Financial and competing interest disclosures

Lucia Helena de Oliveira, Jennifer Sanwogou and Cuauhtemoc Ruiz-Matus are staff members of the Pan American Health Organization. The authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this publication, and they do not necessarily represent the decisions or policies of the Pan American Health Organization. The authors thank the technical and financial partners who have contributed to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction in Latin America. These include GAVI, CDC, the Sabin Vaccine Institute, and the Canadian International Development Agency, among other international stakeholders. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.