WHO issues new guidance to protect young children from pneumococcal disease

The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its advice on how to protect babies and young children under five from pneumococcal disease, a serious infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae.
This new position paper replaces the 2019 version and includes the latest research and recommendations from WHO’s vaccine experts.

What is pneumococcal disease?

Pneumococcal disease can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and ear infections. It can be very dangerous for small children, especially in poorer countries where access to healthcare is limited.

Before vaccines were widely used, there were about 14.5 million cases and 735,000 deaths every year among children under five.
Thanks to vaccination, by 2015 those numbers dropped to 3.7 million cases and 294,000 deaths — meaning half as many children died from the disease compared to before.

How many countries use the vaccine now?

As of 2024, 162 countries have added pneumococcal vaccines to their regular childhood immunization programs.

• Around the world, 67% of children now receive all recommended doses.
• In countries supported by the global vaccine alliance Gavi, about 75% of children are fully protected.

Which vaccines are available?

Several types of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have been developed over the years:

• Prevenar 7 (introduced in 2000)
• Synflorix and Prevenar 13 (2009–2010)
• Pneumosil (approved by WHO in 2019, made in India)

These vaccines have been proven to reduce pneumonia and ear infections, and they also help slow the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

What’s new: broader vaccines coming soon

Scientists are now developing next-generation pneumococcal vaccines that protect against even more strains of the bacteria. These include:

• PCV14 (Pneubevax)
• PCV15 (Vaxneuvance)
• PCV20 (Prevenar 20)

These new vaccines cover up to 20 different bacterial types, offering wider protection. One of them, PCV14, is already being reviewed by WHO for global approval.

Recommended Vaccination Schedules

WHO says countries can choose a schedule that fits their needs:

• 3 + 1: three early doses plus one booster later on
• 2 + 1: two early doses plus one booster
• 3 + 0: three early doses without a booster

For children who missed out:

• Ages 7–11 months: two doses now and one booster later
• Ages 12–23 months: two doses, two months apart
• Ages 2–5 years: one dose may be enough for catch-up

These schedules protect children during their most vulnerable years.

Why this update matters

• Vaccines have saved millions of children’s lives since 2000.
• Continued vaccination helps stop disease spread and reduce antibiotic resistance.
• New vaccines will soon protect children against even more strains of pneumococcal bacteria.
• WHO urges every country to introduce and maintain PCV vaccination for all children.

Reference:
World Health Organization. WHO Position Paper: Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in Infants and Children Aged < 5 Years – September 2025. Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol. 100, No. 39, pp. 411–437.

By Health Literacy Asia