Pneumococcal vaccine sees hospital admissions for deadly pneumonia slashed

New research has revealed the extraordinary impact of a collaborative project between the Telethon Kids Institute and the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, with rates of hospitalisation for pneumonia dropping by nearly 60 per cent thanks to the introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine eight years ago.

Professor William Pomat, Director of the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR), doesn’t have to look far to find someone in Papua New Guinea (PNG) with a story to share about the true impact of pneumonia.

“Every family in PNG has been touched by pneumonia,” Dr Pomat said. “For many, this has meant time away from family, long trips to hospital, and difficulty maintaining income generating activities to provide food and for their children.

“Sadly, for others, pneumonia has caused the devastating loss of their loved one.”

PNG has one of the highest rates of childhood mortality in the Western Pacific region – more than 12 times the rate in Australia – and children are still dying from vaccine-preventable infections.

But the future is now looking a lot brighter thanks to a longstanding collaboration between Telethon Kids Institute and PNGIMR that has seen the power of vaccination reduce pneumonia hospitalisation rates by 57 per cent.

The two institutions have been united in a battle against pneumonia for the past 25 years, working closely on vaccine research and clinical studies. Their efforts paid off in 2014 when the pneumococcal vaccine was introduced as part of PNG’s National Immunisation Program.

Fast forward to 2022 and the results are astounding – in addition to the massive reduction in hospitalisation rates, research published by Telethon Kids Institute, PNGIMR and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute has found children suffering pneumonia are now almost 30 per cent less likely to require oxygen treatment.

Professor Chris Blyth, Director of the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at Telethon Kids Institute, said the results would dramatically shape child health outcomes in countries like PNG.

This research clearly demonstrates the vital role vaccination plays in drastically reducing the number of children acquiring pneumonia and pneumococcal disease and will be pivotal when informing future health policies.

“At the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, our missi on is ensuring a healthier start to life for all children through elimination ofinfectious diseases, not just in Australia but throughout the world, and achieving equitable access to life-saving vaccines.

“We would like every child in PNG to have access to vaccinations for protection against infectious diseases. This research goes a long way in showing the policymakers, healthcare workers and parents in PNG that pneumonia vaccines make a huge difference for our kids.”