The Spanish Royal National Academy of Medicine (RANME) detailed in the framework of World Pneumonia Day that the vaccination coverage against pneumonia among Spain’s pediatric population is over 95%, in sharp contrast to the proportion of older people and people with chronic diseases who receive this vaccination, which is only 40-50% depending on the autonomous community. This coverage gap is associated with a significant proportion of hospitalizations and deaths among elderly and vulnerable groups due to complications associated with pneumonia, academic Angel Gil warned, according to information published by Europa Press.
According to media reports, nearly 10,000 people die from pneumonia each year in Spain, most of them aged over 60 or 70. Gill explained that in most cases, infections can be managed in primary care and treated with antibiotics, but in 25% of situations, especially in older adults and people with chronic conditions, the disease worsens and requires hospitalization, leading to invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), which is characterized by a 15% case fatality rate.
At a scientific session co-organized by the University of Rey Juan Carlos (URJC) and its Vaccine Rector with support from Pfizer, experts stressed the need to strengthen prevention through awareness campaigns and the use of the latest generation of conjugate vaccines capable of covering the main prevalent serotypes, Europa Press reported. Ruth Gil Prieto, URJC Vaccinology Chair, emphasized that “the best prevention of pneumococcal disease is appropriate and systematic vaccination,” emphasizing that immunization levels in adults provide benefits similar to those achieved in infants.
Professor Gilles Prieto stressed the importance of communicating not only to older people and vulnerable groups, but also to healthcare workers and carers, with clear messages about the risks of the disease and the benefits of vaccination. He added that some regions have started implementing improved registration systems and issuing reminders to residents through various means such as electronic messages, SMS, and mail, with positive results in improving coverage.
The media outlet Europa Press emphasized the recommendation to administer pneumococcal and influenza vaccines in combination to older adults, as long as the vaccination schedule allows. Ruth Gil Prieto also pointed out the importance of promoting healthy habits, a balanced diet, avoiding smoking and properly managing chronic diseases to reduce the incidence of pneumonia.
Marisa Navarro, head of the Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Gregorio Maranhão University Hospital in Madrid, provided figures on the impact of the disease on childhood. According to the European Press Agency, each year there are more than 150 million cases of pneumonia and 700,000 related deaths among children under the age of five worldwide, accounting for approximately 14 percent of all child deaths in this age group, surpassed only by neonatal deaths.
According to the European Press Agency, the childhood mortality rate from pneumonia in Spain remains at 0.3 per 100,000 children, a statistic that can be attributed to high vaccination rates, easy access to health care, adequate nutrition, and a low prevalence of serious serious infections in the pediatric population. In contrast, in countries with fewer resources, media reported that the mortality rate from pneumococcal pneumonia in children was as high as 27 per 1,000.
In a statement reported by Agence Europe Press, Navarro said the use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (first PCV7 and later PCV13) has significantly reduced the incidence of invasive and non-invasive pneumococcal disease. Currently, the circulation of some serotypes not covered by PCV13 is driving the adoption of new formulations, such as PCV15 and PCV20, whose protection range is extended to new serotypes.
VNC15 and VNC20 vaccines are being used in place of VNC13 in various autonomous communities, increasing the range of attacks against pneumococcal variants. PCV15 includes 22F and 33F as well as PCV13 serotypes. Meanwhile, PCV20 additionally covers serotypes 8, 10A, 11A, 12F, and 15B/C, covering 68 percent of the serotypes currently prevalent in children under 5 years of age, compared to 20 percent for PCV13 and 40 percent for PCV15.
Expert Navarro, quoted by Agence Europe Press, noted that optimal protection for immunosuppressed patients and children with risk factors requires the use of VNC20 to replace the previous polysaccharide vaccine VPN23. Although this provided protection against a large number of serotypes, over time the immune responses elicited are less strong and less durable.
Preventing pneumonia through vaccination, timely diagnosis, accurate health records and promoting a healthy lifestyle are some of the strategies recommended by experts gathered at a scientific conference, as reported by the European Press Agency. The challenge continues to be to increase vaccination coverage among older people and people with chronic conditions and to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with this infectious disease.
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