Efficacy of the 7-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Against Acute Otitis Media Caused by Serotype 6C Pneumococcus

Abstract

A new pneumococcal serotype 6C, earlier typed as 6A, was discovered in 2007. We retyped all 6A isolates to evaluate vaccine efficacy against 6C acute otitis media (AOM) in the phase III randomized, double-blind Finnish Otitis Media trial conducted in 1995-1999. Efficacy against 6C AOM was -1 (95% confidence interval: -248 to 71) during the per protocol follow-up period. The updated vaccine efficacy estimate for serotype 6A AOM was 65% (95% confidence interval: 31-82). Seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine offered excellent cross-protection against 6A AOM, but our data do not support cross-protection against 6C AOM.