Background paper to the updated pneumococcal vaccination recommendation for older adults in Germany

Incidence of pneumococcal disease in children in Germany, 2014-2019: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Novel, expanded valency pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are in development to reduce the burden of pneumococcal disease (PD) in children. To understand the potential value of new vaccines in Germany, this study estimated the residual burden of PD in children < 16 years old from 2014 to 2019, using administrative health data from a large German claims database.

METHODS

Outpatient and inpatient cases of all-cause pneumonia (ACP), pneumococcal pneumonia (PP) and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) were identified in the InGef database. Incidence rates (IRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated as number of episodes/person-years (PY) at risk. The Mann-Kendall test assessed time trends in incidence.

RESULTS

There were no significant trends in IRs of IPD or PP from 2014 to 2019. For ACP, IRs declined from 2014 to 2019; 2,213 (CI 2,176-2,250) to 1,503 (CI 1,472-1,534) per 100,000 PY (p = 0.017). IRs of ACP and PP were highest among children aged 12-23 months; 4,672 (CI 4,584-4,762) and 20.8 (CI 15.3-27.5) per 100,000 PY, respectively. For IPD, children 5-11 months-old had the highest IRs, at 14.7 (CI 9.0-22.7) per 100,000 PY.

CONCLUSIONS

From 2014 to 2019 there were no discernible trends in the IRs of PP or IPD, but the IRs of ACP declined in children aged < 16 years. The highest IRs of ACP, PP and IPD were observed in children < 2 years of age, highlighting the importance of infant pneumococcal vaccination in the prevention of pediatric PD. The clinical burden of pediatric PD in Germany persists. Continued surveillance of changing pneumococcal burden, serotype distribution, antimicrobial resistance and vaccination status is critical to better understand the factors driving incidence of PD and to inform future vaccination strategies.

The Present and Future of the Adult Pneumococcal Vaccine Program in the United States

Adult Pneumococcal Vaccine Program in the United StatesStreptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a common cause of bacterial respiratory infections leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. Here, Kobayashi et al. discuss the recently updated U.S. guidelines for adult pneumococcal vaccination.

Healthcare resource utilization and cost of pneumococcal disease in children in Germany, 2014-2019: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Since the introduction of higher valency pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in 2009, recent estimates on the economic burden of pediatric pneumococcal disease (PD) in Germany have been lacking. This study estimates healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and medical cost associated with PDs in children < 16 years old in Germany from 2014-2019.

METHODS

A nationally representative sample from the Institute for Applied Health Research (InGef) German claims database was used, covering approximately 5% of the total German population. Episodes of pneumococcal pneumonia (PP), all-cause pneumonia (ACP), invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), and acute otitis media (AOM) in children aged < 16 years were identified using ICD-10-GM codes. HCRU was estimated from annual rates of outpatient visits, outpatient antibiotic prescriptions and inpatient admissions, divided by person-years (PY) at-risk. Average direct medical costs per episode were estimated as the total cost of all HCRU, divided by the total number of episodes. The Mann-Kendall test was used to assess monotonic time trends from 2014-2019.

RESULTS

 During 2014-2019, 916,805 children aged < 16 years were followed up for a total of 3,608,716 PY. The average costs per episode for out-versus inpatient care associated with PP and ACP were €67 (95% CI 58-76) versus €2,606 (95% CI 1,338-3,873), and €63 (95% CI 62-63) versus €620 (95% CI 598-641), respectively. For IPD, the average medical cost per episode for out-versus inpatients were €30 (95% CI 19-42) versus €6,051 (95% CI 3,323-8,779), respectively. There were no significant trends in HCRU or costs for IPD or pneumonia over the study period, except for a significant reduction in ACP outpatient visits. A significant decrease in rate of outpatient visits and antibiotic prescribing for recurrent AOM was observed, in addition to an increase in rates of hospital admissions for simple AOM. This was paralleled by a significant increase in inpatient costs per episode for treating AOM overall, and simple AOM, over the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

 The HCRU and cost per episode of pneumonia and IPD did not vary significantly from 2014-2019, but increased for AOM. The economic burden of pneumonia, IPD, and AOM remains substantial in Germany.

Clinical and economic burden of pneumococcal disease among individuals aged 16 years and older in Germany

This study assessed the incidence rate of all-cause pneumonia (ACP) and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and associated medical costs among individuals aged ≥16 in the German InGef database from 2016 to 2019. Incidence rate was expressed as the number of episodes per 100 000 person-years (PY). Healthcare resource utilisation was investigated by age group and by risk group (healthy, at-risk, high-risk). Direct medical costs per ACP/IPD episode were estimated as the total costs of all inpatient and outpatient visits. The overall incidence rate of ACP was 1345 (95% CI 1339-1352) and 8.25 (95% CI 7.76-8.77) per 100 000 PY for IPD. For both ACP and IPD, incidence rates increased with age and were higher in the high-risk and at-risk groups, in comparison to the healthy group. ACP inpatient admission rate increased with age but remained steady across age-groups for IPD. The mean direct medical costs per episode were €8075 (95% CI 7121-9028) for IPD and €1454 (95% CI 1426-1482) for ACP. The aggregate direct medical costs for IPD and ACP episodes were estimated to be €8.5 million and €248.9 million respectively. The clinical and economic burden of IPD and ACP among German adults is substantial regardless of age.

Acceptance and application of a broad population health perspective when evaluating vaccine

The traditional health economic analysis is limited to estimating the impact on the treated patient. As vaccines are usually aimed at preventing infectious diseases, they may be associated with additional values for the non-treated wider population. Although there are valid reasons for treating vaccines differently, and a wide support for a broader perspective in the literature (i.e., beyond the net costs and health gain related to the outcome for the vaccinated individual), it remains unclear to what extent the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) agencies accept and apply a broader perspective.

The purpose of this study is to examine and discuss what type of consequences are relevant for a health economic analysis of vaccines and which consequences are considered by HTA agencies. The study includes a strategic review of literature and HTA decisions in Sweden and other countries, online round-table discussions with stakeholders in Sweden, and a basic estimation of the value of a COVID-19 vaccination in Sweden.

The study shows that, other than herd effect, broader economic consequences for the population are generally not included in the economic evaluation of vaccines. Also, all economic consequences for the treated patient (production loss) and caregiver (health loss) are not always considered. The perspective chosen can have a major impact on the outcome of the analysis. A vaccine for COVID-19 is estimated to provide a value of €744–€956 per dose when using a societal perspective including broader consequences for the population.

Providing a complete and appropriate picture of the value of vaccination is of importance to allocate resources efficiently, to provide incentives for vaccine development, and to show the cost of delaying decisions to implement a new vaccine.

The effect of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in the elderly on health service utilisation and costs: a claims data-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

To date, cost-effectiveness of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations was assumed in several health economic modelling studies, but confirmation by real-world data is sparse. The aim of this study is to assess the effects on health care utilisation and costs in the elderly using real-world data on both, outpatient and inpatient care.

METHODS

Retrospective community-based cohort study with 138,877 individuals aged ≥ 60 years, insured in a large health insurance fund in Thuringia (Germany). We assessed health care utilisation and costs due to influenza- or pneumococcal-associated diseases, respiratory infections, and sepsis in 2015 and 2016. Individuals were classified into four groups according to their vaccination status from 2008 to 2016 (none, both, or either only influenza or pneumococcal vaccination). Inverse probability weighting based on 236 pre-treatment covariates was used to adjust for potential indication and healthy vaccinee bias.

RESULTS

Influenza vaccination appeared as cost-saving in 2016, with lower disease-related health care costs of - €178.87 [95% CI - €240.03;- €117.17] per individual (2015: - €50.02 [95% CI - €115.48;€15.44]). Cost-savings mainly resulted from hospital inpatient care, whereas higher costs occurred for outpatient care. Overall cost savings of pneumococcal vaccination were not statistically significant in both years, but disease-related outpatient care costs were lower in pneumococci-vaccinated individuals in 2015 [- €9.43; 95% CI - €17.56;- €1.30] and 2016 [- €12.93; 95% CI - €25.37;- €0.48]. Although we used complex adjustment, residual bias cannot be completely ruled out.

CONCLUSION

Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in the elderly can be cost-saving in selective seasons and health care divisions. As cost effects vary, interpretation of findings is partly challenging.

Mathematical assessment of the impact of cohort vaccination on pneumococcal carriage and serotype replacement

Although pneumococcal vaccines are quite effective in reducing disease burden, factors such as imperfect vaccine efficacy and serotype replacement present an important challenge against realizing direct and herd protection benefits of the vaccines. In this study, a novel mathematical model is designed and used to describe the dynamics of two Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) serotypes, in response to the introduction of a cohort vaccination program which targets one of the two serotypes. The model is fitted to a pediatric SP carriage prevalence data from Atlanta, GA. The model, which is rigorously analysed to investigate the existence and asymptotic stability properties of the associated equilibria (in addition to exploring conditions for competitive exclusion), is simulated to assess the impact of vaccination under different levels of serotype-specific competition and illustrate the phenomenon of serotype replacement. The calibrated model is used to forecast the carriage prevalence in the pediatric cohort over 30 years.

The rationale for use of clinically defined outcomes in assessing the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines against pneumonia

Introduction: When evaluating the public health value of adult pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) for pneumonia, regulatory agencies and vaccine technical committees (VTCs) emphasize vaccine serotype (VT), radiologically confirmed community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) to the exclusion of clinically defined pneumonia and thus may underestimate PCV's public health value.Areas covered: We review the critiques that have been raised to using clinically defined pneumonia as a complement to VT-CAP in evaluating the public health value of adult PCVs.Expert opinion: PCV13 efficacies for preventing hospitalized CAP ranged from 6% to 11% and for a combination of primary and secondary care from 4% to 12%, with relatively high associated rate reductions. These efficacy values are larger than estimated from multiplying PCV13 efficacy against vaccine-type CAP by the proportion of CAP identified as vaccine-type through tests, such as a serotype-specific urinary antigen detection assay. Current understanding of pneumococcal epidemiology and limitations of diagnostic tests suggest the efficacy values for clinically defined outcomes are plausible and potentially generalizable. Regulatory agencies and VTCs have accepted clinically defined outcomes for assessing pediatric vaccines and - while additional studies assessing adult clinical CAP VE are needed - they might consider existing data when evaluating adult PCV use.

Where are the keys to improve vaccine uptake in adults and elders in European countries?

Improving vaccination of the elderly is one of the most important challenges in the coming years, as it was for infant's decades ago. Insufficient vaccine uptake in the elderly can be considered a concern with regard to the burden of vaccine preventable diseases in this growing population. The purpose of this paper is to have an overview on the different steps involved in decision policy making from the regulatory agencies until people are vaccinated. Examples of different policies within European countries will be compared for influenza, streptococcal and zoster infections. For each step, key improvements to increase vaccine uptake in this specific population will be proposed.

Immunogenicity following revaccination or sequential vaccination with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) in older adults and those at increased risk of pneumococcal disease: a review of the literature

Introduction: Immunogenicity studies evaluating sequential administration of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) followed by 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) or revaccination with PPSV23 have raised concerns that PPSV23 may not elicit higher antibody levels than those measured following PCV or first PPSV23 dose.Areas covered: Recent literature was evaluated for evidence of blunted immune response (hyporesponsiveness), focusing on studies using adequate intervals between doses in accordance with vaccination recommendations. In eight of nine studies that evaluated revaccination with PPSV23 at an interval of ≥5 years after the previous dose, immunoglobulin G geometric mean concentrations and/or opsonophagocytic assay geometric mean titers for most serotypes increased from pre- to post-repeat vaccination and were comparable between repeat and primary vaccination groups post-vaccination. In seven studies in which PPSV23 was administered after PCVs (8 weeks to 1 year apart), responses to PPSV23 were comparable to those seen after initial PCV dose for shared vaccine serotypes. Studies in which PCVs were administered after PPSV23 were not evaluated.Expert opinion: Published data suggest immune responses following repeat vaccination with PPSV23, or sequential PCV/PPSV23 vaccination, are robust, without evidence of hyporesponsiveness. PPSV23 vaccination of at-risk adults is essential to ensure broad protection against all 23 vaccine serotypes.

Response to Shami et al. 'Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a sequential pneumococcal vaccination compared to single dose vaccination strategy for adults in Hong Kong' (Hum Vacc Immunother 2020)

The recently published article by Shami et al. describes a cost-effectiveness analysis of sequential pneumococcal vaccination with 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) followed by 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), compared with a single PPSV23 dose, in adults in Hong Kong. Sequential vaccination was cost-saving versus PPSV23 alone. The model assumed vaccine effectiveness (VE) of 0% for PPSV23 against all-cause non-bacteremic pneumonia; this was based on studies with flawed methodologies and studies that did not evaluate non-bacteremic pneumococcal disease. In recent studies and meta-analyses, PPSV23 VE pneumococcal pneumonia, including against non-bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia, ranged from 27% to 64%. In other cost-effectiveness analyses, assumptions for PPSV23 VE against non-bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia, had dramatic effects on cost-effectiveness estimates. Future analyses must carefully consider PPSV23 VE assumptions to ensure accuracy.

The impact of the changing pneumococcal national immunisation program among older Australians

Australia has a universal infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccination program and until recently a universal pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine program for non-Indigenous adults aged ≥65 years and Indigenous adults aged ≥50 years. We documented the impacts of infant and adult vaccination programs on the epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Indigenous and non-Indigenous adults. IPD notifications from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System were analysed from 2002 to 2017, grouped by age, vaccine serotype group and Indigenous status. Since the universal funding of infant and elderly pneumococcal vaccination programs in January 2005, total IPD decreased by 19% in non-Indigenous adults aged ≥65 years but doubled in Indigenous adults aged ≥50 years. Vaccine uptake was suboptimal in both groups but lower in Indigenous adults. IPD due to the serotypes contained in the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) except for serotype 3 declined markedly over the study period but were replaced by non-PCV serotypes. Serotype 3 is currently the most common in older adults. In the populations eligible for the adult 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPPV) program, IPD rates due to its exclusive serotypes increased to a lower extent than non-vaccine types. In 2017, non-vaccine serotypes accounted for most IPD in the older population eligible for the 23vPPV program, while it's eleven exclusive serotypes accounted for the majority of IPD in younger adults. Infant and adult pneumococcal vaccination programs in Australia have shaped the serotype-specific epidemiology of IPD in older adults. IPD remains a significant health burden for the Indigenous population. Herd immunity impact is clear for PCV serotypes excluding serotype 3 and serotype replacement is evident for non-PCV serotypes. The adult 23vPPV immunisation program appears to have partially curbed replacement with IPD due to its eleven exclusive serotypes, highlighting a potential benefit of increasing adult 23vPPV coverage in Australia.

Cost Effectiveness of Elderly Pneumococcal Vaccination in Presence of Higher-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Childhood Vaccination: Systematic Literature Review with Focus on Methods and Assumptions

BACKGROUND

Previous systematic reviews concluded that pneumococcal vaccination in the elderly was cost effective. However, recently published economic evaluations state that it may not be cost effective when children are vaccinated with higher-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. The literature suggests that the outcomes of vaccination in the elderly are strongly influenced by the vaccine effectiveness (VE) against the vaccine-type pneumococcal diseases (PD) and the impact of childhood vaccination on the vaccine-type PD incidence in the elderly, but the extent remains unclear.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature search of cost-effectiveness studies on vaccination in the elderly in the PubMed database starting from 2006. We included studies that consider the presence of a childhood vaccination with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) 10 and PCV13. We focus on methods and assumptions used in modeling VE and epidemiology of PD over time.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight economic evaluations underwent full-text review and data extraction. Thirteen were selected for quality assessment. The studies with a higher quality score provide evidence that vaccinating the elderly with PCV13 is not cost effective, when an ongoing rapid decline in the incidence of PCV13-type PD is modeled. A moderate persistence of PCV13 serotypes, in particular due to PCV10 childhood vaccination, makes vaccination of the elderly with PCV13 more attractive. There is no agreement that combining PCV13 with polysaccharide vaccine PPSV23 is cost effective. PPSV23 is attractive when it is effective against non-invasive PD.

CONCLUSION

Methodological approaches and assumptions in modeling VE and the indirect effects of childhood vaccination have a major impact on outcomes of decision-analytic models and cost-effectiveness estimates. Considering recently observed trends in the epidemiology of pneumococcal serotypes, there is currently inconclusive evidence regarding the cost effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccination of the elderly due to lack of studies that model key serotypes such as serotype 3 separately from other groups of serotypes.

Limited indirect effects of an infant pneumococcal vaccination program in an aging population

BACKGROUND

A general recommendation for adult pneumococcal vaccination with 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) for adults 60 and older has been in place in Germany since 1998, but uptake has been low. Just over a decade after the implementation of an infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccine recommendation, we examined indirect protection effects on adult invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Germany.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Reported IPD cases decreased in children under two years of age from 11.09 per 100,000 in 2003-2006 to 5.94 per 100,000 in 2017/18, while in adult age groups, reported IPD cases rose across the board, most dramatically in adults 60 years of age and over, from 1.64 to 10.08 cases per 100,000. PCV13-type IPD represents 31% of all cases in this age group, the lion's share of which is due to the rapid increase of serotype 3 IPD, which, by itself, has reached 2.11 reported cases per 100,000 and makes up 21% of all IPD cases in this age group. The two vaccine formulations currently in development (PCV15 and PCV20) would increase current (PCV13) coverage by 8.5% points and 28.0% points in children, while in adults coverage would increase by 10.4% points and 21.9% points, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

While original models predicted that indirect effects of childhood vaccination would suffice for adults, it seems that the herd protection effect has reached its limit, with vaccine serotypes 4, 19F, and 19A IPD persisting in adults after initial reductions, and serotype 3 IPD not showing any herd protection effect at all.

[The new standard operating procedure of the German standing committee on vaccination (STIKO): history, structure, and implementation]

In Germany, the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) develops recommendations on vaccinations and other measures of specific prophylaxis against communicable diseases. Myths, wrong assumptions, and conspiracy theories are able to disturb the implementation of vaccination recommendations. Evidence and transparency of recommendations are needed to rationalize the discussion.In November 2011, STIKO adopted a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for the development of evidence-based vaccination recommendations. Following guidance provided by the SOP, a number of new vaccination recommendations have been developed since 2011. Furthermore, existing recommendations were revised or extended accordingly. This article provides an overview on the methodology of the SOP, describes experiences made so far, and characterizes future challenges.

Vaccines to Prevent Pneumococcal Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia and also causes invasive diseases like bacteremia and meningitis. Young children and elderly are especially at risk for pneumococcal diseases and are, therefore, eligible for pneumococcal vaccination in most countries. This reviews provides an overview of the current epidemiology of pneumococcal infections, history and evidence of available pneumococcal polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines, and current recommendations.

Environmental factors which can affect the burden of pneumococcal disease and the immune response to pneumococcal vaccines: the need for more precisely delineated vaccine recommendations

Introduction: Precision medicine describes the customization of healthcare tailored to the individual patient. Generally, vaccines are considered as public health tools rather than from the individual patient perspective. However, adult vaccination programs in particular should consider many different factors, at the individual level and also from societal, cultural and country-specific perspectives. Currently, most immunization programs, including those for pneumococcal vaccines, have only been adopted on the basis of age or medical risk. Areas covered: Based on a broad literature search, this review addresses possible environmental factors which can affect the burden of pneumococcal disease and the immune response to pneumococcal vaccines. Expert opinion: Factors which influence the incidence of pneumococcal disease and the reaction against pneumococcal vaccination, including personal conditions, geographic/ethnic factors and social risks, are diverse. To maximize the effects of pneumococcal vaccination, not only for public health but also to induce optimal effects at the individual level, vaccines need to be verified under diverse situations and with collaboration among relevant medical societies, governments, and the pharmaceutical industry. Whereas vaccines are generally considered only from the public health perspective, flexible, comprehensive and tailored pneumococcal immunization programs, with appropriate policy support, can generate a greater positive impact on public health.

Impact of the pediatric 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on serotype distribution and clinical characteristics of pneumococcal pneumonia in adults: The Japan Pneumococcal Vaccine Effectiveness Study (J-PAVE)

BACKGROUND

The pediatric 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was included in the pediatric immunization programme in Japan in late 2013. The impact of vaccination on the serotype distribution and clinical characteristics of pneumococcal pneumonia has not been described.

METHODS

The first phase of this multicentre prospective study was conducted at community-based hospitals in Japan from 2011 to 2014. The second phase was conducted from 2016 to 2017. Pneumococcal isolates and clinical data were collected from patients with community-acquired pneumonia who were ≥15 years of age. Patients were classified by pneumococcal serotype to PCV13 serotype, 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) non-PCV13 serotype, and non-vaccine serotype.

RESULTS

A total of 484 patients were enrolled, 241 in the first phase and 243 in the second. The proportion of PCV13 serotypes decreased from 53% to 33% (p < 0.001), whereas PPV23 non-PCV13 serotypes did not change (p = 0.754). PCV13 serotypes were associated with increased risk of elevated blood urea nitrogen (adjusted odds ratio 2.49; 95% confidence interval: 1.49-4.16) and hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio 1.74; 95% confidence interval: 1.02-2.95). These associations were not observed in patients with PPV23 non-PCV13 serotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of pneumococcal pneumonia caused by vaccine-covered serotypes dramatically decreased following the introduction of pediatric PCV13. The PCV13 serotypes were associated with pneumonia severity.

Cost-effectiveness of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in adults in Portugal versus "no vaccination" and versus vaccination with the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine

The burden of pneumococcal disease in adults is substantial from a social and economic point of view. This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumococcal pneumonia in adults versus "no vaccination" and versus vaccination with the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). A Markov model was used to simulate three strategies: no vaccination, complete vaccination with PPSV23 and complete vaccination with PCV13. The comparison between strategies allowed the estimation of clinical and economic outcomes including incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) and incremental cost-utility ratios (ICUR). The model took into account the distributions of age, risk profile, vaccination status, type of immunization and time since vaccination in the population. A societal perspective was adopted and a lifetime horizon was considered. Different sources of data and assumptions were used to calibrate PPSV23 and PCV13 effectiveness. Inpatient costs were based on the 2013 diagnosis-related group (DRG) database for National Health Service (NHS) hospitals and expert opinion; NHS official tariffs were the main source for unitary costs. PCV13 shows ICURs of €17,746/QALY and €13,146/QALY versus "no vaccination" and vaccination with PPSV23, respectively. Results proved to be robust in univariate sensitivity analyses, where all ratios were below a €20,000 threshold, with the exception of the scenario with PCV13 effectiveness halved. In a probabilistic sensitivity analysis, 94% of simulations showed cost-effectiveness ratios lower than €20,000/QALY, in both strategies. It was found that PCV13 is a cost-effective strategy to prevent pneumococcal disease in adults in Portugal.

Time interval of revaccination with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine more than 5 years does not affect the immunogenicity and safety in the Japanese elderly

In the previous study, revaccination with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) in a total of 161 elderly subjects (≥70 years of age) who had received the initial vaccination at least 5 years before (range: 5 to11 years) showed an acceptable safety profile and induction of immune responses to the serotypes in PPSV23. The optimal interval between the initial vaccination and revaccination with PPSV23 is of interest to protect elderly from pneumococcal disease over the long-term. In this post-hoc analysis, we analyzed that the immunogenicity and safety of revaccination with PPSV23 by time interval after the initial vaccination. The level of serotype-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) and opsonophagocytic killing activity (OPA) geometric mean titers (GMTs) at 4 weeks after revaccination with PPSV23 in each subgroup based on time interval (5, 6, 7, 8 and 9-11 years) after the initial vaccination were comparable to those after the primary vaccination and vaccine-induced serotype-specific IgG and OPA levels were similar regardless of the time interval after the initial vaccination. There was no difference in the safety profiles among the subgroups. In conclusion, administration of a second dose of PPSV23 at least 5 years after the initial vaccination was immunogenic and well-tolerated in the elderly ≥70 years of age regardless of the time interval after the initial vaccination.

Economic evaluation of pneumococcal vaccines for adults aged over 50 years in Belgium

Streptococcus pneumoniae causes a high disease burden including pneumonia, meningitis and septicemia. Both a polysaccharide vaccine targeting 23 serotypes (PPV23) and a 13-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV13) are indicated for persons aged over 50 years. We developed and parameterized a static multi-cohort model to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness and budget-impact of these vaccines at different uptake levels. Using three different vaccine efficacy scenarios regarding non-invasive pneumococcal pneumonia and extensive uni- and multivariate sensitivity analyses, we found a strong preference for PPV23 over PCV13 in all age groups at willingness to pay levels below €300 000 per quality adjusted life year (QALY). PPV23 vaccination would cost on average about €83 000, €60 000 and €52 000 per QALY gained in 50-64, 65-74 and 75-84 year olds, whereas for PCV13 this is about €171 000, €201 000 and €338 000, respectively. Strategies combining PPV23 and PCV13 vaccines were most effective but generally less cost-effective. When assuming a combination of increased duration of PCV13 protection, increased disease burden preventable by PCV13 and a 75% reduction of the PCV13 price, PCV13 could become more attractive in <75 year olds, but would remain less attractive than PPV23 from age 75 years onwards. These observations are independent of the assumption that PPV23 has 0% efficacy against non-invasive pneumococcal pneumonia. Pneumococcal vaccination would be most cost-effective in Belgium, when achieving high uptake with PPV23 in 75-84 year olds, as well as by negotiating a lower market-conform PPV23 price to improve uptake and cost-effectiveness.

Impact and cost-effectiveness of different vaccination strategies to reduce the burden of pneumococcal disease among elderly in the Netherlands

Background

Streptococcus pneumoniae causes morbidity and mortality among all ages in The Netherlands. To reduce this burden, infants in The Netherlands receive the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV10), but older persons are not targeted. We assessed the impact and cost-effectiveness of vaccination with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) or 13-valent PCV (PCV13) among all those aged 60, 65 or 70 and/or in combination with replacing PCV10 with PCV13 in the infant vaccination programme.

Methods

A static cost-effectiveness model was parameterized including projected trends for invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and hospitalised community acquired pneumonia (CAP). The different strategies were evaluated using vaccine list prices and a 10-year time horizon. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) were calculated with the current strategy (infant vaccination program with PCV10) as reference.

Results

Compared to the reference, the largest impact on pneumococcal disease burden was projected with a combined use of PCV13 among infants and PPV23 at 60, 65 and 70 years, preventing 1,635 cases of IPD and 914 cases of CAP. The most cost-effective strategy was vaccinating with PPV23 at 70 years only with similar low ICERs at age 60 and 65. The impact of the use of PCV13 among infants depends strongly on the projected herd-immunity effect on serotype 19A. Vaccinating elderly with either PCV13 or PPV23 was dominated by PPV23 in all investigated scenarios, mainly due to the lower price of PPV23.

Conclusion

Under the current assumptions, the best value for money is the use of PPV23 for elderly, with a single dose or at five year increment between age 60 to age 70.