Increased Incidence of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease among Children after COVID-19 Pandemic, England

Abstract

During July–December 2021, after COVID-19 restrictions were removed in England, invasive pneumococcal disease incidence in children <15 years of age was higher (1.96/100,000 children) than during the same period in 2020 (0.7/100,000 children) and in prepandemic years 2017–2019 (1.43/100,000 children). Childhood vaccine coverage should be maintained to protect the population.

Keywords

• invasive pneumococcal disease
• bacteria
• viruses
• respiratory infections
• coronavirus disease
• pneumococcal diseases