Vaccines to prevent pneumonia in children - a developing country perspective

Abstract

Pneumonia accounted for 15% of the 6.3 million deaths among children younger than five years in 2013, a total of approximately 935,000 deaths worldwide. Routine vaccination against common childhood illnesses has been identified as one of the most cost-effective strategies to prevent death from pneumonia. Vaccine-preventable or potentially preventable diseases commonly linked with respiratory tract infections include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza type-b (Hib), pertussis, influenza, measles, and tuberculosis. Although here have been great strides in the development and administration of effective vaccines, the countries that carry the largest disease burdens still struggle to vaccinate their children and newer conjugated vaccines remain out of reach for many. The Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) has identified priority areas for innovation in research in all aspects of immunisation development and delivery to ensure equitable access to vaccines for all.

Keywords: Children; Developing countries; Pneumonia; Vaccines.

Figure 1. Causes of death in children under 5 years of age (2013)

‘Reproduced by kind permission of Elsevier from Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality in 2000–13, with projections to inform post-2015 priorities: an updated systematic analysis’ [2]

Figure 2. Timeline of vaccine development against major vaccine preventable diseases

‘Adapted by permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd: [NATURE REVIEWS] (The development of vaccines: how the past led to the future) [5], copyright 2011

Figure 3. Childhood vaccines included in routine vaccination schedules in Developing and Established-Market Countries

‘Translated with permission of the WHO from State of the World’s Vaccines and Immunisation, 2002.’ [77]