Researchers from Switzerland and the UK have found that commonly used pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines (PPVs) do not seem to be effective for preventing pneumonia.
In many industrialized countries, PPVs are currently recommended to help prevent pneumococcal disease in people aged 65 and over and for younger people with increased risk due to conditions like HIV.
Pneumonia - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, Complications
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by a bacteria or a virus. It causes inflammation of the alveoli or the air sacs of the lungs.
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by a bacteria or a virus. It causes inflammation of the alveoli or the air sacs of the lungs.
The new findings are based on a study, which looked at 22 clinical trials, reviews and meta-analyses and more than 100,000 participants from countries in North America as well as India, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Unlike other similar studies, the researchers examined the reasons why different clinical trials produced different results.
When only high quality trials were included, there was no evidence that PPVs could prevent pneumonia.
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Immunisation programme to include vaccine against Pneumococcal disease
Next week, a vaccine against pneumococcal disease will be introduced for the first time. It is likely to save the lives of 50 babies and small children a year and prevnt illness in many others.
Next week, a vaccine against pneumococcal disease will be introduced for the first time. It is likely to save the lives of 50 babies and small children a year and prevnt illness in many others.
"Policy makers may therefore wish to reconsider their current recommendations for PPV, especially where routine pneumococcal conjugate immunization has been introduced," said Dr. Matthias Egger from the University of Bern, Switzerland and co-authors.
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Prior Vaccination Against Pneumonia Ensures Lower Risk of Death
The Archives of Internal Medicine has reported that among patients who were hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia, those who had received the pneumococcal vaccine had a lower risk of death.
The Archives of Internal Medicine has reported that among patients who were hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia, those who had received the pneumococcal vaccine had a lower risk of death.
PRI/SK
