Pneumococcal Vaccine Uptake: Hong Kong Study
- A recent study in Hong Kong highlights a critical gap in pneumococcal disease prevention: low pneumococcal vaccine uptake among adults following hospitalization for the illness.
- Pneumococcal disease poses a importent global health burden,particularly for young children and older adults.
- Researchers analyzed electronic health records from 2015 to 2024, a period encompassing the COVID-19 pandemic, to assess vaccine uptake before and after hospitalization for pneumococcal infection.
A new study from Hong Kong reveals a significant problem: low pneumococcal vaccine uptake following hospitalization, emphasizing a critical gap in pneumococcal disease prevention. The research, featured in the journal Vaccines, underscores missed chances to vaccinate adults in both inpatient and outpatient settings.With only a fraction of at-risk adults vaccinated before their illness, and minimal betterment post-discharge, the need for more effective vaccination strategies is clear. This study, analyzing data from 2015 to 2024, including the COVID-19 pandemic period, found overall vaccination rates that remained remarkably low.News Directory 3 keeps you informed on crucial health findings like these.Discover what’s next for improving pneumococcal vaccine coverage.
Pneumococcal Vaccine Uptake Lags After Hospitalization
Updated June 11, 2025
A recent study in Hong Kong highlights a critical gap in pneumococcal disease prevention: low pneumococcal vaccine uptake among adults following hospitalization for the illness. The research, published in Vaccines, points to numerous missed opportunities for vaccination in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Pneumococcal disease poses a importent global health burden,particularly for young children and older adults. While pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) are effective in preventing serious infections, vaccination rates among eligible adults remain suboptimal. For example, in 2022, only 23% of adults wiht risk factors for invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) were vaccinated, and 64% of those 65 and older.
Researchers analyzed electronic health records from 2015 to 2024, a period encompassing the COVID-19 pandemic, to assess vaccine uptake before and after hospitalization for pneumococcal infection. The study considered various pneumococcal vaccines, including PCV13, PCV15, and 23vPPV.
Of the 5,517 patients studied,4,469 were eligible for pneumococcal vaccination.Before developing pneumococcal disease, only 16.8% of all patients and 20.5% of eligible patients had received a pneumococcal vaccine. Post-discharge, the situation improved only marginally. Within the first year after leaving the hospital, vaccination rates ranged from 0.5% to 5.7%, depending on the period (pre-pandemic, during, post-pandemic).