50% of the children given the pneumococcal vaccine and they are properly immunized, according to a study conducted by scientists Tarragona.

the EPIVAC research group of the Institute for research in primary care Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol) has developed the study, from the direction of primary attention of the Camp de Tarragona.

-the research concludes that at present approximately 50% of the child population is immunized against pneumococcal, although this vaccine does not form part of systematic vaccines calendar

-the study of the IDIAP points that vaccinated children are acceptably immunized, since their vaccination continues to be the number of doses that indicates the Spanish Association of Paediatrics, depending on the age

-the research work, carried out by researchers at Tarragona, examines the evolution of the coverage of the pneumococcal vaccine in children of Tarragona from 2002 to 2011

-scientists believe that the results could be extrapolated to the entire catalan territory

-pneumococcal vaccine helps prevent bacterial pneumonias. Its cost is about €76 per dose

Spain, March of 2013.- the study, developed by the Group of research Effectiveness of Pneumococcal and Influenza vaccinia (EPIVAC) of IDIAP Jordi Gol, is entitled “Evolution of coverages in the child population of Tarragona pneumococcal vaccination,” 2002-2011 and argues thatCurrently, coverage is around 50%. The research, led by Dr. Angel Vila and Olga Ochoa, was published in the Revista Española de Salud Pública.

Researchers explain that it was a maximum of 60% coverage in Tarragona for the period 2006-2007 and then came a setback to the current coverage, around 50%.

Doctor Angel Vila, who has led the research work, ensures that there are “barriers, such as the high price of the complete vaccine guideline, the lack of public funding for the vaccine, the perception of a too high number of injections infants and the doubts of some professionals on its cost-effectiveness, which could explain the low coverage reached”.

Prepared by the IDIAP research work ensures that the results can be quite indicative of the use of the vaccine in Catalonia and other communities where the Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (VNC) is not publicly funded.

2001: introduction of the vaccine in Spain

The pneumococcal vaccine was introduced in Catalonia during the academic year 2001-2002 to combat bacterial pneumonias in early childhood. The VNC was marketed in Spain in 2001, after demonstrating its protective effectiveness in a clinical trial in children of the United States of America. Since then, its use is recommended in children under 5 years old.

The Spanish Association of Paediatrics recommends three doses if the first is given between 2 and 6 months of age, two doses if the first is administered between 7 and 23 months, and a single dose if administered after 24 months.

521 children studied

The research work has studied a total of 521 children from the region of Tarragona, from 6 months to 10 years (born between 01/01/2002 and on 06/01/2011). 45.1% Of the children had received at least one dose of PCV and the percentage of children who had received two or more doses was reduced to 40.5%. Research includes all of the 9 basic areas of the comarca of Tarragonès health and considered that you approaching enough use of the vaccine in Catalonia.

the table shows that children born in 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 have fewer doses of the vaccine and that there are more boys and girls who have not received any doses, with respect to those who were born before. Coverage reaches its maximum, with 62.5% of the child population in infants between 2006 and 2007; then began a decline in coverage for children born in 2008-2009 (50.8%) and 2010-2011 (44.6%). As for the boys and girls who have been vaccinated, it must be said that they could be considered as acceptably immunized, since in its vaccination has been followed the number of doses that indicates the Spanish Association of Paediatrics, depending on the age. According to the survey, 51% of children with two doses administered had received the vaccine during the second year of life, and 63% of those that had a single dose, had received it after the second year.

the total of children studied, 88,7% did not have any risk factor of pneumococcal infection, 10.9%, did have some risk factor and 0.4% presented a high risk. In this sense, the Angel Vila researcher says that “it is surprising that more than one third of children from 2 and 3 risk have not received the VNC, being free for them”.

United States: the reference

in the United States of America, where the VNC was introduced as universal vaccination for children under 2 years from 2000 and where the Hedges are high, as well as a significant positive impact direct on vaccinated children, found also a considerable positive impact indirect in children and unvaccinated adults.

what is the IDIAP?

The Jordi Gol Foundation i Gurina was created in 1996 by the Catalan Health Institute, with the aim of promoting and managing the innovation, training, teaching and research clinical, epidemiological and health services in the field of primary care.

Since 2006 is called primary care Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol) Research Institute. In 2010, is ascribed to the Autonomous University of Barcelona as a University Institute of primary care research. Since August has the quality certification ISO 9001:2008, activities of support and advice for research projects.