Positive immunogenicity results and lack of adverse events with receipt of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine by 200 children and adolescents in India supports extension of the indication to that population, reported Sharad Agarkhedkar, MD, of the Padmashree Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College in Pune, India, and associates.
In India, the PCV13 vaccine is indicated for children aged 6 months to 5 years and for adults older than 50 years. The study assessed the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine in children aged 6-17 years to consider expanding the indication to that age group, the investigators said.
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In an open-label study of 200 children and adolescents who received PCV13, 113 were 6 years to less than 10 years of age and 87 were aged 10-17 years; 54% were female. Antibody-mediated opsonophagocytic activity geometric mean titers were significantly higher for all vaccine serotypes 1 month after vaccination with PCV13, and there was no significant difference in psonophagocytic activity geometric mean titers between the two age groups. , the investigators said.
There were no acute reactions within 20 minutes of immunization. No adverse effects or severe adverse effects were recalled by caregivers who were questioned by the investigators 28-42 days following vaccination.
Read more in the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal (2017 Nov 1;36[11]:e282-5. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000001695).