Pediatric Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine and Dosing Schedule Perceptions Among Health Care Providers and Caregivers in Germany, France, Spain, and Greece.

Introduction: Most European infant national immunization programs (NIPs) recommend pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), which currently cover 10-15 serotypes administered in a three-dose schedule (two primary  plus one booster). Recently, a PCV covering 20 serotypes that is administered in a four-dose schedule (three primary plus one booster) was licensed.

Methods: An online survey was administered to collect data from health care providers (HCPs) and caregivers of children aged 0-5 (including expectant mothers) in four European countries (Germany, France, Spain, and Greece). All caregiver respondents had a shared or full responsibility to make health decisions for their child. Data on opinions, perceptions, and openness to a change in childhood vaccination dosing schedules were collected, along with demographic information for HCPs as well as caregivers.

Results: A total of 601 HCPs and 1954 caregivers were recruited across the four countries. Nearly all HCPs (93%) agreed that broader serotype coverage against pneumococcal disease for children is a significant unmet need, and 92% had a "sense of urgency" to vaccinate children. Both HCPs and caregivers were supportive of an additional PCV dose and doctor visit, assuming it provided at least 20% more serotype coverage than what is currently available. Caregivers strongly agreed on the importance of full vaccination for pneumococcal disease, even if an extra dose and visit to the doctor was required.

Conclusions: HCPs and caregivers were virtually unanimous in their support for a PCV with broader serotype coverage and showed a subsequent willingness to include an extra infant dose/visit. These results can help guide broader discussions regarding public health policy and vaccine administration in the context of important efforts to reduce the global disease burden associated with pneumococcal disease.