Jabs against pneumococcus seen as 'sound investment'Listen to this articleThailand's leading paediatric organisations have urged the National Health Security Office (NHSO) to include the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in the universal health care scheme, saying protection against severe but preventable childhood diseases is a sound public investment. The groups warned that infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, remain a major cause of serious illness in Thai children. In Thailand PCV remains classified as an optional vaccine, leaving access dependent on a family's ability to pay. The evidence indicates that nationwide pneumococcal conjugate vaccination would reduce treatment costs and lower losses linked to childhood disability and mortality. Based on these findings, the groups concluded that PCV vaccination is a "worthwhile investment" and called on authorities to act.
