Chronicling the Journey of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Introduction in India.

BACKGROUND

Globally, pneumonia claims the lives of about 700,000 children under the age of 5 every year. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) was introduced in India phase-wise, beginning in high-burden states, and the rollout was completed nationwide by 2021-representing a major initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the campaign succeeded in maintaining progress and achieving nationwide coverage. This narrative review highlights the significant decisions, processes, and coordinated efforts of the various stakeholders involved that led to this successful PCV rollout.

METHODOLOGY

A comprehensive desk review of both published and unpublished literature relevant to pneumonia burden and the efficacy and effectiveness of PCVs, along with documentation of PCV introduction and the scale-up was carried out.

RESULTS

The documentation of the PCV journey has been broken down into four sections: pre-introduction, PCV Phase-I introduction, pan-India rapid expansion, and the period post-introduction. Since the nationwide rollout in 2021, PCV coverage in India has steadily increased, reflecting successful immunization efforts. WUENIC, which is an annual WHO, and UNICEF estimates of national immunization coverage also show a positive trend in vaccination coverage (PCV booster coverage = 25% (2021), rising to 83% (2023), aligning with the goals of the WHO and UNICEF's Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD).

CONCLUSIONS

The phased rollout was an ambitious effort by the MoHFW, which was particularly challenging given the overlap with the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these hurdles, the MoHFW, along with strong collaboration from development partners and stakeholders, successfully navigated the complex rollout. Future studies on the role of PCVs in reducing antibiotic resistance and the economic benefits of PCV introduction could help policymakers sustain funding and prioritize vaccine procurement decisions.