Research and analysis

Pneumococcal disease infections caused by serotypes not in Prevenar 13 vaccine

Updated 28 March 2024

Applies to England

The number of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) cases due to any serotype not covered by Prevenar13TM had been increasing year on year before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the 2020 to 2021 epidemiological year it was at its lowest since 2006 in all age groups because of pandemic restrictions.

In 2022 to 2023, the cumulative number of cases remained lower than the three epidemiological years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in persons aged 5 years and over.

Cumulative case numbers in 2023 to 2024 up to week 9 remain lower than the 2022 to 2023 epidemiological year across all age groups except individuals over the age of 65 years.

The 2006 to 2007 epidemiological year corresponds to the year in which where Prevenar 7TM was implemented in the childhood immunisation schedule (September 2006). The 2009 to 2010 and 2013 to 2014 epidemiological years corresponds 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 of the serotype not covered in Prevenar13TM: Children aged under 2 years in England by epidemiological year 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 of the serotype in not in Prevenar13TM: Children aged 2 to 4 years in England  by epidemiological year July and 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 serotype in not covered in Prevenar13TM: Persons aged 5 to 64 years in England by epidemiological year 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 not covered in Prevenar13TM: Persons aged 65 years and over in England by epidemiological year July and 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 above graphs are based on week of isolation, therefore numbers for most recent weeks may not be complete. Numbers of reports of serotyped cases shown in the graph 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 was introduced into the childhood immunisation schedule on 4 September 2006, which corresponds with week 36 above.

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