Pneumonia burden eased with introduction of PCV7.(Infectious Diseases)(pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) From: Family Practice News | Date: January 1, 2008| Author: Moon, Mary Ann | COPYRIGHT 2008 International Medical News Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

The pneumococcal vaccine appears to have markedly reduced the overall burden of pediatric pneumonia, results of a large retrospective study suggest.

Rates of hospitalization and ambulatory medical visits for all-cause and pneumococcal pneumonia fell dramatically by 2004, 4 years after the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was introduced into the routine childhood immunization schedule in the United States. Associated medical expenditures also dropped conside...