Conjugated pneumococcal vaccine for children in Saudi Arabia: following the footsteps of Hib vaccine

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to assess the impact of Hib vaccination on the Haemophilus influenzae type b incidence and occurrence of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the University Hospital of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study also meant to consider the need for the introduction of routine conjugated pneumococcal vaccine for children. It was a retrospective study during the period of January 1996 to July 2007 reviewing all positive blood and CSF in children up to 18 years of age who were admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of invasive disease with Haemophilus influenzae type b and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Eighty cases with invasive disease due to Haemophilus influenzae were admitted between 1996 and 2000. Hib conjugated vaccine has become routine in Saudi Arabia since the year 2000 and since then a significant steady drop of Haemophilus influenzae type b cases was observed with only 36 cases occurring between June 2001 and July 2007. On the other hand, no change was observed in the incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae invasive disease. This study suggests that the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease by immunization may be an attractive proposition. These results should initiate health authorities to encourage similar local and nation wide studies to support this suggestion