Universal Vaccine for Pneumonia and Meningitis (Health, Diseases and Biotechnology)
Universal Vaccine for Pneumonia and Meningitis (Health, Diseases and Biotechnology)
Why In News:
Scientists have moved a step closer to developing a universal vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacterium responsible for a large share of global pneumonia and meningitis cases.
Scientific Basis
Streptococcus pneumoniae has many serotypes, which differ mainly in their capsular polysaccharides.
Existing Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCVs) mainly target these capsule types, so their protection is limited to the serotypes included in the vaccine.
A universal vaccine would target conserved proteins shared by different strains, potentially providing broader protection.
Pneumococcal infections are particularly important among young children and older people.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)
What it prevents: PCV protects mainly against serious infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, including pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis.
How it works: It uses pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides linked to a carrier protein, which produces a stronger and longer-lasting immune response, particularly in young children.
India: PCV was introduced into the UIP in a phased manner from 2017 and subsequently expanded nationwide.
PCV is a conjugate vaccine, meaning a poorly immunogenic polysaccharide antigen is linked to a protein carrier to improve the immune response.
Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
Launched: 1985 to provide free vaccination to all children and pregnant women.
Nodal Ministry: Implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) as part of India’s public health system.
Coverage: Provides vaccines against several vaccine-preventable diseases to children and pregnant women through government health facilities.
Importance: It is one of the world's largest public immunisation programmes and aims to reduce child mortality, morbidity and disease outbreaks.
Global Meningitis and Pneumonia Control
The WHO's Defeating Meningitis by 2030 roadmap, endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 2020, aims to reduce the global burden of meningitis.
Major bacterial causes covered by the roadmap include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae and Group B Streptococcus.
The roadmap focuses on areas such as prevention, diagnosis, treatment, surveillance and support for people affected by meningitis.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance supports the introduction and expansion of vaccines, including pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being includes targets related to reducing preventable deaths among newborns and children under five, making vaccination an important component of global health goals.