The High Authority for Health has expanded to all people over 65 the recommendation of vaccination against pneumonia and pneumococcal infections. While the incidence of these diseases reaches almost 20 % of this population, its vaccine coverage would only be included between 5 and 16.9 %.
- 60% of pneumococcus infections would concern patients over 65 years of age.
- The vaccination coverage of this age group reaches barely 5%.
- The HAS is counting on a new single administration vaccine to develop this older vaccination coverage.
A “Clinical and epidemiological burden”. This is how Dr. Emmanuelle Blanc, “vaccine” medical director of a large laboratory, qualifies the incidence of pneumococcal infections in people 65 years and over, infections that have risen upwards and have been multiplied By 2 between 2021 and 2022 after the end of the health crisis, especially due to the end of “barrier gestures”. If the High Authority for Health recommended in 2023 to expand the vaccination recommendation against infections to this population, it is barely 5 % of this age group that would be covered today.
A risk multiplied by three from 50 years old
However, pneumococcus infections are formidable. While the two most fragile ages are young children and the elderly, in the latter the risk, essentially under the effect of immuno-senescence, is multiplied by 3 from 50 years, by 5 from 70 years and by 12 from 80 years old. “”60 % of pneumocococcal pneumonies concern those over 65“, Specifies the Dr. Emmanuelle Blanc with in half of the cases a need for hospitalization including for patients with no comorbidity.
Infections that can cause otitis, pneumonia or meningitis
Pneumococcal infections can affect several locations of the body: the middle ear by causing ear infections, which is most often seen in young children, but also in all adults, sinuses, lungs and also meninges in invasive forms. The risks of being the victim of such an infection are multiplied by 4 in the presence of a chronic disease such as diabetes, pulmonary or cardiac pathology, alcoholism or in immuno-depressed people due to cancer.
A new single administration vaccine
But it is the risk that exists for all those over 65 without comorbidities that prompted HAS to widen the vaccination recommendation to the whole age group. Objective: to increase vaccination coverage partly limited due to a complicated vaccine scheme based on a new single administration vaccine that makes it possible to simplify the vaccination calendar. Until then, available vaccines had to be administered with a reminder every year or every 5 years. In addition, this product can be administered separately or jointly with a vaccine against flu or COVID-19.
According to several studies carried out in different European countries (England, Spain and Italy), the new single administration vaccine has demonstrated its effectiveness in vaccination strategies over 65 based on age and not on the presence of comorbidities .
