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Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have significantly reduced the prevalence of invasive pneumococcal disease in the U.S. (NEJM JW Pediatr Adolesc Med May 2016 and Lancet Respir Med 2016; 4:399; NEJM JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Apr 2017 and Pediatrics 2017; 139:e20162098). Introduction of PCV into the childhood vaccination schedule in 2000 has also led to declines in vaccine-type pneumococcal disease in older adults owing to herd immunity. Following PCV7 vaccine introduction, increases in nonvaccine serotype colonization and disease in children were observed, prompting the introduction of PCV13 in 2010.
To examine colonization rates from 2000 through 2014, investigators collected nasopharyngeal swabs during six surveillance seasons from 6537 …