Advocates are calling for newer vaccines to be funded on the NIP.
Invasive pneumococcal disease is on the rise, with 4500 cases recorded in the past two years – the highest incidence rate since 2002.
That’s equivalent to more than six new cases a day, according to the Immunisation Foundation of Australia.
The increase in life-threatening infections shows no sign of slowing in the new year, said the foundation, an advocacy group formed by the family of Riley Hughes, who died from whooping cough in 2015.
Three factors are likely behind the surge in cases: evolving bacterial strains, declining vaccination rates (infant coverage is down slightly from 94% in 2017 to 92.8% last year) and antibiotic resistance (more than 40% of invasive infections are resistant to at least one antibiotic class).
The disease, caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria invading the lungs (resulting in pneumonia or empyema), brain (meningitis) or bloodstream (septicaemia), became notifiable in 2001. Peak numbers were recorded in 2002 (2415 cases) and 2004 (2355), according to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.
Numbers fell dramatically after vaccination was funded for infants as part of the National Immunisation Program in 2003, and further when over-65s were covered in 2005. Annual cases have been under 2000 most years since, dipping especially during covid.
Prevenar 13 (covering 13 strains) and Pneumovax 23 (23 strains) are covered under the NIP for:
- all children at two, four and 12 months
- a fourth dose at six months for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia
- children and adults at medically higher risk
- all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and up
- all non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 70 years and up
People under 20 and those of any age who missed out on routine vaccinations (including refugees) can get a free catch-up shot.
The Immunisation Foundation is calling for newer pneumococcal vaccines with broader coverage, already approved by the TGA, to be rolled out under the NIP.
“Newer pneumococcal immunisations protect against more strains than the vaccines currently available, but a funding decision is mired in bureaucratic red tape,” said founder and director Catherine Hughes AM.
“New generation vaccines need to be rolled out through the National Immunisation Program without further delay. We simply can’t risk not having the best available pneumococcal protection.”
Pneumococcal meningitis is fatal in one in 12 children, according to the CDC. Invasive pneumococcal disease can also cause permanent disability.
