Data from commercially insured children with continuous enrolment from 0–24 months of age in a USA insurance database were analysed and stratified into 2017-2019 and 2022-2024-year cohorts. Cohorts were further stratified by risk status, determined using diagnosis data and procedure codes. A complete series of vaccination was defined as the approved 4-dose regimen of any PCV vaccine (infant immunisation at 2, 4, and 6 months, and toddler immunisation at 12–15 months).
In total, 45,254 children were included in the 2017–2019 cohort and 30,893 in the 2022–2024 cohort. Around 25% were considered at risk for pneumococcal disease, the majority (around 75%) due to immunocompromising conditions. Most children, both with and without risk factors, completed the 3-course primary PCV series. However, full series completion rates in the 2022-2024 cohort decline by 2.7% among at-risk children and 4.7% among healthy children compared with 2017-2019, resulting in around 25% of children overall with incomplete immunisation.
In summary, although completion rates for the full PCV series were similar among children with and without risk conditions, coverage decreased following the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic years. “Recent declines in PCV series completion rates highlight the importance of continued monitoring to ensure that young children, particularly those at increased risk, remain protected against pneumococcal disease,” the authors concluded.
- Miles AC, et al. PCV series completion by age 24 months among children with and without risk conditions in the United States. 6th ESCMID Conference on Vaccines, 10–13 September 2025, Lisbon, Portugal.
Medical writing support was provided by Mihai Surducan, PhD.
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