Melbourne researchers are testing a vaccine covering 21 bacterial strains to better prevent pneumonia, meningitis and other severe infections.
A new international trial led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) is testing a pneumococcal vaccine designed to provide broader protection for infants against serious bacterial infections, including pneumonia, meningitis, sinusitis and middle ear infections.
The investigational vaccine targets 21 strains of pneumococcus, compared with the 13 strains currently covered by the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
Researchers hope the expanded coverage will reduce rates of invasive pneumococcal disease, which remains a major cause of illness and death in children under two years of age.
In 2024, Victoria reported 602 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease, more than half of which occurred in children aged 0–4 years.
The Melbourne arm of the randomised controlled trial is recruiting 50 families with healthy two-month-old infants who have not yet received their first scheduled vaccinations.
Participants will receive four doses of the study vaccine at two, four and six months, followed by a booster at 12–15 months, alongside all other NIP-recommended vaccines. Families will be enrolled for up to 19 months, with three blood tests included to assess immune responses.
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MCRI Professor Margie Danchin said a vaccine offering broader protection was crucial to preventing severe illness and death.
“Pneumococcal infections are caused by a common bacteria that lives in the nose and throat and can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and severe infections of the bloodstream and lining of the brain,” she said.
“There are more than 90 different strains of the pneumococcal bacteria, and no vaccine is able to protect against every strain.
“But our trial of this new pneumococcal vaccine, which has shown good results in earlier studies and will protect against 21 strains, has the potential to save more lives.
“We always need to ensure that children and families are being offered the best protection against severe disease with new and improved vaccines. However, we need to demonstrate that they are safe and can trigger a protective antibody response in young children before they can be introduced into the national immunisation schedule.”
The trial will recruit more than 1600 infants across Australia, the United States, Puerto Rico, Honduras, South Korea and Thailand.
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