paediatric pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

A paediatric pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is a biologic preparation used to provide active immunization against *Streptococcus pneumoniae* in infants and children. It consists of purified capsular polysaccharides from multiple pneumococcal serotypes, each covalently linked to a carrier protein (such as CRM197 or diphtheria toxoid). This conjugation is essential for converting the T-cell-independent polysaccharide antigens into T-cell-dependent antigens, thereby inducing a robust immune response and immunological memory in the immature immune systems of young children. These vaccines are indicated for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), including sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia. Clinical research, such as trials sponsored by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia, has focused on evaluating newly licensed PCV formulations (e.g., PCV13 or PCV15) in high-risk paediatric populations, specifically those with asplenia or hyposplenia, to mitigate the risk of overwhelming post-splenectomy infection (OPSI).

Brand names

Prevenar 13Prevenar13Prevenar-13VaxneuvancePrevenar 20Prevenar20Prevenar-20Synflorix

Other names

PCVpneumococcal conjugate vaccinepneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine