Research and analysis

Pneumococcal disease: cases caused by strains covered by Prevenar 13 vaccine

Updated 20 September 2023

Applies to England

The number of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) cases due to any of the 13 serotypes in Prevenar13TM was the lowest during the 2020 to 2021 epidemiological year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions.

During the 2021 to 2022 epidemiological year, the number of cases remained lower than previous years in persons aged 5 years or over, but in children aged under 5 years, case numbers were similar to those in the years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the 2022 to 2023 epidemiological year, the cumulative number of cases was higher than in any year since the 2017 to 2018 epidemiological year for all age groups.

The 2006 to 2007 epidemiological year corresponds to the year in which Prevenar 7TM was implemented in the childhood immunisation schedule (September 2006).

The 2009 to 2010 and 2013 to 2014 epidemiological years correspond to the year in which Prevenar 13TM was implemented (April 2010) and 4 years following, respectively.

Figure 1. Cumulative weekly number of reports of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease due to any serotype in Prevenar13™: children aged under 2 years in England by epidemiological year, from July to June (selected years and 2017 to 2018 to date)

Figure 2. Cumulative weekly number of reports of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease due to any serotype in Prevenar13™: children aged 2 to 4 years in England by epidemiological year, from July to June (selected years and 2017 to 2018 to date)

Figure 3. Cumulative weekly number of reports of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease due to any of the serotypes in Prevenar13™: persons aged 5 to 64 years in England by epidemiological year, from July to June (selected years and 2017 to 2018 to date)

Figure 4. Cumulative weekly number of reports of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease due to any of the serotypes in Prevenar13™: persons aged 65 years and over England by epidemiological year, from July to June (selected years and 2017 to 2018 to date)

Source: Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA, formerly Public Health England).

The 4 line graphs are based on week of isolation so numbers for the most recent weeks may not be complete. Number of reported cases shown in the graphs are not adjusted to account for any change that may have occurred over time and between age groups in the proportion of all IPD cases that are serotyped.

The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was introduced into the childhood immunisation schedule on 4 September 2006, which corresponds with week 36 in the graphs.

The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was introduced into the childhood immunisation schedule on 1 April 2010, which corresponds with week 13 in the graphs.

The vaccine schedule for this vaccine changed for infants born on or after January 2020 (with doses given at 12 weeks and 1 year of age (1+1) instead of 8 weeks, 16 weeks and 1 year of age (2+1)), which corresponds with week 0 above.