The Nordic countries have different pediatric PCV programmes. In 2017, Norway and Denmark were using PCV13, Sweden both PCV10 and PCV13 and Finland used PCV10. All programmes have demonstrated high effectiveness in children, but with different indirect effect among elderly.
The IPD incidence for the year 2017 in +65 years of age was evaluated together with serotype specific coverage of licensed vaccines and developmental pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) using data from the ECDC.
Table: IPD incidence per 100 000 (%) by vaccine serotypes in +65 population, 2017
Norway | Denmark | Sweden | Finland | |
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines: | ||||
PCV10-types | 1,74 (4,8) | 1,9 (4,5) | 2,2 (5,1) | 3,9 (10,3) |
PCV13-types | 8,6 (23,9) | 5,4 (12,8) | 12,5 (29,1) | 19,7 (51,9) |
PCV15-types | 16,5 (45,8) | 10,7 (25,4) | 17,9 (41,7) | 23,1 (60,9) |
PCV20-types | 22,2 (61,6) | 28,5 (67,7) | 24,9 (58,0) | 25,7 (67,7) |
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine: | ||||
PPV23-types | 26,2 (72,9) | 34,26 (81,1) | 27,2 (63,4) | 26,1 (68,8) |
Total IPD: | ||||
All serotypes | 36,0 (100) | 42,2 (100) | 42,9 (100) | 38,0 (100) |
There are major differences in the serotype distribution in IPD among elderly between the Nordic countries associated with the choice of PCV in the pediatric programme. A substantial amount of IPD amongst elderly can be addressed by direct vaccination.