Pneumococcal Vaccine for Children With Sickle Cell Disease

In a randomized, controlled trial, published in Blood Advances, researchers evaluated V114, a 15-valent pneumococcal vaccine, in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The study’s authors noted SCD is associated with increased risk for invasive diseases, including Streptococcus pneumonia.

Lead author of the study, Charles Quinn, and colleagues reported that V114 had tolerability, safety, and immunogenicity outcomes comparable with those of Prevnar 13 (PCV13), a vaccine against 13 pneumococcal bacteria.

Additionally, children with SCD exhibited immune responses to serotypes 22F and 33F, both of which are not included in PCV13, after a single vaccination with V114.

Pneumonia Vaccine Effective for Pediatric SCD

This phase 3 trial enrolled 103 participants, aged 5 to 17 years, with SCD and assigned them to either a single dose of V114 (n=70) or PCV13 (n=34).  The primary safety end point was the proportion of participants who experienced adverse events (AEs).

Seropositive-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and opsonophagocytic activity were measured immediately prior to and 30 days following vaccination.

Researchers stated that rates for injection-site and systemic AEs following vaccination were comparable between the PCV13 and V114 groups. Authors also noted serious AEs up to 6 months following vaccination were as expected, and none were judged to be related to V114.

Geometric mean concentrations of IgG and geometric mean titers of OPA for the 13 serotypes shared by both vaccines were “generally comparable” between the groups, according to the study.

Ultimately, Quinn and colleagues concluded “these results support the use of V114 in the pediatric SCD population for protection against [pneumococcal disease].”

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