Prediction of the potential benefit of different pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on invasive pneumococcal disease in German children.

Background: In the US a pneumococcal conjugate vaccination program with a 7-valent conjugate vaccine was successfully implemented in 2000. How much invasive pneumococcal disease can potentially be prevented by the 7-valent (or 11-valent) vaccine in Europe?

Methods: Prospective, active surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease in German children age <16 years was performed between 1997 and 2000. Age- and disease-specific coverage and incidence rates were assessed in children old enough to benefit from complete vaccination to estimate the annual number of cases potentially preventable.