Pneumococcal vaccine no panacea for middle ear infection
03 May 2002
An Australian ear, nose and throat specialist has backed the results of a Cochrane review that found no strong evidence for widespread vaccination of children against pneumococcal disease to prevent acute otitis media.
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international organisation aimed at helping people make well-informed decisions about healthcare by undertaking scientific reviews of evidence for certain treatments.
'If a child gets lots of ear infections, this is not the panacea,' said Associate Professor Rob Berkowitz, director of the department of otolaryngology at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.
Professor Berkowitz said the current clinical practice was to vaccinate high-risk children, such as Aboriginal children.
'[But] in the broader community the benefit is not great.'
The reviewers said ongoing trials could provide more information about whether it is effective in high risk, otitis-prone populations.
Professor Berkowitz said even though the review did not include the new 23 valent vaccines, its findings were still relevant. 'Again, [those vaccines] are not the panacea for acute otitis media in children.'
For details of which Australian children are eligible for free pneumococcal vaccine under the National Childhood Pneumococcal Vaccination Program, see your doctor.
Last Reviewed: 06 May 2002
- Medical Observer Weekly 03/05/02
