Pneumococcal

Pneumococcal is a bacterial disease, that comes up in winter and early spring and has a high communicability. The transmission is through direct person to person contact as well as contact through respiratory droplets. This disease is a human only pathogen, there are no animal or insect reservoir meaning that it can be eradicated through the use of vaccinations and herd immunity (2).

The original pneumococcal vaccine was polysaccaride and contained 23 different strains, and was 60-76% effective in preventing invasive disease though there was no antibody response in children under the age of two years old. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was approved, which contained 13 different strains of the bacteria. The vaccine is more than 90% effective in preventing invasive disease in young children. It was found to be 45% effective in preventing non bacterimic infections in adults 65 years or older and 75% effective in preventing invasive disease within the same age group (2).

This disease does not require a booster shot though it may be recommended in people over the age of 65 years old, or those who have lung conditions. The bacteria that causes pneumococcal is not found in soil or on objects, only within the throat cells of human beings. With enough diligence and participation this disease could be easily eradicated (2).

(1)

¹Person. (2016, May 24). Doctors recommend pneumococcal vaccine for some patients. Retrieved May 7, 2020, from https://wcyb.com/news/local/doctors-recommend-pneumococcal-vaccine-for-some-patients

²Pinkbook. (2019, April 15). Retrieved May 7, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html     

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

Whooping cough also known as pertussis, is a bacterial disease that is known to have severe consequences when infants are infected. Transmission occurs through respiratory droplets and secretions. Pertussis is an human only disease, with no other reservoir, which means it can be eradicated through herd immunity and vaccinations (1).

There was a whole cell pertussis vaccine that was part of the tetanus and diphtheria vaccine. The whole cell DTP was effective protection of 70% - 90% for ten years. Though there were concerns of the side effects found in some children. This version of the vaccine is no longer available and was replaced with the acellular pertussis which is the current TDaP vaccine. There are two versions of the TDaP vaccine the pediatric one approved for children six weeks to seven years old, and the other is the adolescent adult that is approved for anyone over the age of ten. The TDaP has an vaccine efficiency rate of 80-85%. The vaccine requires a booster shot every ten years (1).

Due to the vaccine requiring a booster, which has low compliance it is harder to eradicate. Though it is possible to remove the disease from the population due through vaccination programs and having enough people comply with getting the booster shot to be over threshold needed for herd immunity (1).

(2)


¹Pinkbook. (2019, April 15). Retrieved May 7, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pert.html   

²Sanofi Pasteur gains approval for more Tdap indications. (2019, February 17). Retrieved May 7, 2020, from https://pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/brand-marketing-communications/sanofi-pasteur-gains-approval-for-more-tdap-indications/