Streptococcal infection

In December 2008, a new pneumococcal vaccine (PCV-10) was licensed in Canada. An older vaccine (PCV-7) is used in Québec for the routine vaccination of children. The ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec (Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS)) asked the Comité d'immunisation du Québec (Québec Immunization Committee (CIQ)) to rapidly give an opinion on the pertinence of this vaccine and answer the three following questions:

In Canada, the first 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) was licenced in 2001. The manufacturer's recommendation is to administer three doses at an early age for primary immunization and a booster dose during the second year (Wyeth-Ayerst Canada Inc. 2001). The recommendation of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NAIC) is to give 3 doses of vaccines at the same time as the other vaccines provided in the schedule at the ages of 2, 4 and 6 months, and the booster dose…