More protection against pneumonia with newly-approved vaccine

The Star

2 days ago

Young children are one of the high-risk groups for developing serious and potentially fatal pneumonia. — Canva
Malaysians can now be protected against 20 strains of the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae , which is one of the main causes of pneumonia.
This follows the recent announcement that the Health Ministry has approved the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) by American pharmaceutical company Pfizer.
This new vaccine offers protection against an additional seven serotypes of S. pneumoniae , also known as pneumococcus, compared to its 13-valent predecessor (PCV13).
These include newer strains associated with antibiotic resistance and high death rates.
Professor Dr Mark van der Linden, who heads the national reference centre for Streptococci in Germany, notes that scientists have been racing to keep up with the evolving strains of pneumococcus.
'There are currently 107 known serotypes.
'We're not creating new ones; they evolve naturally.
'Pneumococcus reproduces every 30 minutes, so it adapts far faster than humans,' he shares.
The first conjugate vaccine, which was developed specifically for use in young children, targeted the seven serotypes that caused the majority of pneumococcal disease.
This 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was introduced in Malaysia over two decades ago.
As vaccination reduced these strains, others emerged – a process called serotype replacement.
'We saw a 40% drop in cases, but new strains emerged.
'That's why vaccines must continuously evolve.
'We can't cover all 107, but expanding coverage is essential, especially for high-risk groups,' says Prof van der Linden.
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Meanwhile, consultant clinical microbiology and infection physician Dr Teresa Wang Kin Fong from Hong Kong explains that based on data from the Chinese territory, invasive pneumococcal disease is now more common among adults than children.
'We used to give adults the polysaccharide vaccine PPV23, but it had limited effectiveness.
'Pfizer later developed PCV7, and at one point, we [in Hong Kong] implemented a combined adult programme using both PPV23 and PCV7.
'Now with PCV20, we can skip PPV23 entirely.
'PCV20 offers broader protection and simplifies the process to a single dose, making it more convenient for patients and doctors alike.'
In Malaysia, vaccine uptake among adults remains low.
'This is largely due to the outdated perception that vaccines are only for children,' notes Malaysian Society of Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy past president Prof Dr Zamberi Sekawi.
Adults with chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and lung disease, are especially vulnerable to developing severe pneumonia, which can be life-threatening.
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Vaccinating adults not only protects individuals, but also reduces transmission within households.
'When one family member brings home an infection, the whole household is at risk.
'Vaccinating adults helps break that chain,' Prof Zamberi adds.
This is important as both young children and the elderly are also vulnerable to developing severe pneumonia.
'Children are born with immature immune systems.
'As we age, our immune system weakens – a process called immunosenescence.
'That's why both groups need the most protection,' says consultant paediatrician Prof Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, parental concerns about vaccination have shifted from cultural or religious questions to fear of side effects.
'I've had parents who declined the pneumococcal vaccine, only to return later after their child was hospitalised.
'Sadly, by then it's too late,' shares Prof Zulkifli.
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PCV20 is approved for use in both children and adults starting from the age of six weeks onwards.