To assess the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) on the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Singaporean children over a 24-year period from 2000 to 2023.
Key Findings:
Overall incidence of IPD was 3.9 per 100,000 children from 2000 to 2023.
IPD incidence in children aged ≤2 years decreased significantly from 13.3 to 4.7 per 100,000 (P < .001).
IPD due to PCV7 serotypes declined from 68.0% to 22.0% (P < .001).
IPD due to PCV13 serotypes decreased from 80.5% to 70.2% (P = .03).
The proportion of IPD cases due to serotype 19A increased from 6.5% to 38.7% (P < .001).
Interpretation:
The introduction of PCV into Singapore's NCIS significantly reduced the burden of IPD in young children, but the emergence of serotype 19A poses a notable challenge for future vaccination strategies.
Limitations:
Data collected from a single center may not represent the entire pediatric population in Singapore.
Lack of data on non-PCV serotypes and their impact on IPD burden.
Potential biases in data collection from a single center may affect the generalizability of the findings.
Conclusion:
The introduction of PCV has led to a substantial reduction in IPD among children, but ongoing surveillance is necessary to monitor serotype replacement, particularly with serotype 19A, to inform future vaccination policies.
