The Effect of Fractional Doses of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines on Immunogenicity and Carriage in Kenyan Infants

Summary

Before the introduction of pneumonia vaccines in 2000, between 700,000 - 1 million children died each year as a result of infection with the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae and the resulting diseases, namely, meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia. Most of the deaths were in Africa and Asia. Where the vaccines have been introduced, they have been highly effective and have already reduced disease. However, at 10 USD per child, they are not affordable to most low-income countries without financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. This project aims to assess whether lower doses of the two commercially available pneumonia vaccines can protect Kenyan infants as well as the full dose. The results could be used to increase the affordability of the pneumonia vaccine, and enable delivery of the vaccine to continue in the absence of Gavi support.

Timeline

Start

2019-03-21

Primary completion

2022-09-30

Completion

2024-11-01

Publications

• Gallagher KE, Lucinde R, Bottomley C, Kaniu M, Suaad B, Mutahi M, Mwalekwa L, Ragab S, Twi-Yeboah L, Berkley JA, Hamaluba M, Karani A, Shangala J, Otiende M, Gardiner E, Mugo D, Smith PG, Tabu C, Were F, Goldblatt D, Scott JAG. Fractional Doses of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine - A Noninferiority Trial. N Engl J Med. 2024 Nov 28;391(21):2003-2013. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2314620. Epub 2024 Sep 26.

Drugs

Indications