To support the launch of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) for pediatric populations in the US, OPEN Health conducted a study among healthcare providers (HCPs) to identify preferences and to determine HCPs’ knowledge of and attitudes toward higher-valent PCVs in pediatric patients. This research was cited by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in its presentation to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at a public meeting June 22, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. Slides of the meeting are available here.
ACIP reviews evidence for new vaccines or vaccines with new indications. It makes recommendations to the CDC about including vaccines in guidelines, influencing whether the vaccines will be widely adopted and reimbursed.
In the online study, OPEN Health surveyed a range of HCPs—pediatricians, family medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants—to learn what they know and think about using higher-valent PCVs. While many HCPs believed that PCV13 is sufficient and effective, most expressed an interest in having more PCV options. The preference assessment, which was informed by qualitative interviews, included five hypothetical vaccine attributes (i.e., characteristics). Findings revealed that immune response for the serotypes covered in PCV13 was the most important attribute, with coverage of invasive pneumococcal disease rated second in importance. Having an indication for acute otitis media, effectiveness against serotype 3, and the number of serotypes followed, in decreasing order of importance.
Among the key findings of the study:
- Having just one serotype with a superior immune response was significantly preferred to PCV13’s immune response
- HCPs were twice as likely to prefer a PCV with 53% coverage of invasive pneumococcal disease compared with 17% coverage
- Almost all HCPs (>90%) would like to have more PCV options, with immune response, number of serotypes, patient characteristics, and indication identified as reasons that could affect their recommendations
A manuscript is being developed now that details additional qualitative investigations to validate these findings and explore other factors that may influence HCPs’ preferences for recommending PCVs.
