Effect of the PCV 10 vaccination on community-acquired pneumonia hospitalisations after four years of its introduction into the Polish National Immunisation Programme: Follow-up study.

[Display omitted] • Implementation of PCV 10 has significantly reduced the hospitalisation rate among the vaccinated group of children. • Significant indirect effect of vaccination was observed also in older age groups. • The data show that the introduction of national vaccinations is an effective intervention in the public health. Vaccination against pneumococci is currently the most effective method of protection against pneumococcal infections. The aim of the study was to analyse changes in hospitalisations and in-hospital deaths due to pneumonia before (2009–2016) and after (2017–2020) the introduction of PCV 10 vaccinations in the National Immunisation Programme in Poland. Data on hospitalisations related to community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the years 2009–2020 were obtained from the Nationwide General Hospital Morbidity Study. Analyses were made in the age groups: <2, 2–3, 4–5, 6–19, 20–59, 60+ years in 2009–2016 and 2017–2020. Overall, there were 1,503,105 CAP-related hospitalisations in 2009–2020, 0.7% of which were caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae infections. Children <2 years of age were the most frequently hospitalised for CAP per 100,000 population, followed by patients aged 2–3, 4–5 and 60+ years. In the years 2009–2016, the percentage of CAP hospital admissions increased significantly, and after the year 2017, it decreased significantly in each of the age groups (p<0.001). In the years 2009–2016, a significant increase in hospitalisations for Streptococcus pneumoniae infections was observed in the age groups <2, 2–3 and 4–5 years (p<0.05). A significant reduction in hospitalisations was observed in the age groups <2, 20–59 and 60+ in 2017–2020 (p<0.05). In the years 2009–2020, there were 84,367 in-hospital deaths due to CAP, 423 (0.5%) of which due to Streptococcus pneumoniae , with patients mainly aged 60+. Implementation of the PCV vaccination programme has effectively decreased the incidence of CAP hospitalisations, including children <2 years of age. The group that is most at risk of death are persons aged 60+. The results of our study can be useful in evaluating the vaccine efficacy and benefits, and they can be an essential part of public health policy. Effective prevention strategies for CAP should be implemented in different age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]