Molecular epidemiology of pneumococcal carriage in children from Seville, following implementation of the PCV13 immunization program in Andalusia, Spain.

Introduction: The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) universal vaccination programme was introduced in December 2016 in Andalusia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the molecular epidemiology of pneumococcal nasopharyngeal colonization. A total of 397 healthy children were recruited from primary healthcare centres in Seville for the periods 1/4/2018 to 28/2/2020 and 1/11/2021 to 28/2/2022 (PCV13 period).