PHF Science research vital to protecting New Zealanders from invasive pneumococcal disease

In 2021, the rise of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), caused a critical shift in New Zealand’s National Immunisation Programme (NIP) – directly influenced by research conducted by PHF Science on behalf of the Ministry of Health. 

IPD is a serious, vaccine-preventable illness caused by pneumococcal bacterium, that can lead to bloodstream infections, meningitis and severe pneumonia. Despite vaccines, IPD continues to take the lives of at least 300,000 children under five years old every year globally. 

Many types of pneumococcal bacteria exist (called serotypes), but about 20 are responsible for most cases of IPD. The first pneumococcal vaccine introduced to the national immunisation programme in 2008 targeted seven of these serotypes (PCV7) and, in the following years, was updated to reflect other serotypes in the community. In early 2021, PHF Science reported a rise in IPD cases among children caused by serotype 19A—which is not covered by the pneumococcal vaccine in use at the time (PCV10).  

Ongoing surveillance showed this increase was unprecedented, suggesting New Zealand was facing a unique public health risk. PHF Science recommended the vaccine on the immunisation schedule to be changed to PCV13 to restore protection against 19A.   

PHF Science’s timely surveillance and research findings supported PHARMAC’s decision to change the vaccine on the schedule from PCV10 to PCV13 in December 2022. This change contributed to a 50% reduction in IPD among young children and a 70% reduction in vaccine-specific IPD for young Māori and Pacifica children by 2024.  

This example is one of a range of research and surveillance capabilities that inform vaccine policy in Aotearoa and have kept New Zealanders better protected from diseases such as influenza, meningococcal disease and COVID-19.