Post-pandemic impact on the epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease: consensus statement from the Latin American Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (SLIPE).

Abstract

Introduction: The Latin American Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (SLIPE) convened a multidisciplinary expert panel to assess the post-pandemic epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Latin America and the Caribbean. The COVID-19 pandemic initially reduced IPD incidence due to non-pharmaceutical interventions, but subsequent relaxation of restrictions, coupled with immunization gaps, led to a resurgence of pneumococcal infections. The consensus statement reviews literature and regional surveillance data to analyze how disrupted vaccination programs, socioeconomic inequities, and weakened healthcare systems amplified the regional vulnerability to vaccine-preventable diseases.

Areas covered: This document addresses epidemiologic changes in IPD following the pandemic, the interplay between respiratory viral infections and pneumococcal disease, trends in pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) coverage and related barriers, and the emergence of non-vaccine serotypes causing IPD.

Expert opinion: Sustaining herd protection in the region requires strengthening vaccination infrastructure, restoring confidence through effective communication, and ensuring the completion of booster doses in the second year of life. Despite limited serotype data, countries should prioritize the timely adoption of higher-valency PCVs in feasible schedules to mitigate the growing burden of pneumococcal disease and prevent further setbacks in child health.