Healthcare providers' preferences for pediatric pneumococcal vaccination recommendations in the United States

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) was recently licensed for use in children by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The objective of this study was to assess healthcare providers' (HCPs') preferences for the use of PCV20 in the pediatric population and opinions about possible changes to pediatric pneumococcal vaccination recommendations.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Pediatricians (N = 268), family medicine physicians/general practitioners (N = 184), physician assistants (N = 77), and nurse practitioners (N = 74) who prescribed, recommended, or administered a pneumococcal vaccine to a child aged ≤18 years in the past 3 months completed an online survey. A series of direct-elicitation questions was used to assess preferences for the potential use of PCV20 in the pediatric population.

RESULTS: HCPs preferred options that provided protection against more serotypes: 76% of HCPs in this study favored transitioning children who started vaccination with PCV13/15 to PCV20, and most (≥60%) favored a supplemental dose of PCV20 for all children aged <5 years fully vaccinated with PCV13/15. 93% of HCPs preferred PCV20 over PCV15 for children aged ≤18 years.

CONCLUSIONS: HCPs' choices indicated a preference for the use of PCV20 in both a clinical setting and in pediatric pneumococcal vaccination recommendations, due to the higher number of serotypes covered by PCV20.