Effectiveness and impact of 7 and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in Chinese children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are highly effective against pneumococcal diseases, yet coverage in China remains low. We conducted a systematic review of observational studies published between 2006 and 2024 in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of PCV7 and PCV13. Twenty-seven studies were identified, of which 17 were included in meta-analyses. PCVs showed strong protection against invasive pneumococcal disease (pooled effectiveness: 88.8%, 95%CI: 80.7–96.8%) and significantly reduced the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia (14.3%, 95%CI: 10.1–18.5%). Vaccine-serotype CAP was reduced by 69.9% (95%CI: 60.0–79.7%), and moderate benefits were observed against severe pneumonia, mortality, and recurrent episodes. Evidence for otitis media remained limited. These findings highlight the substantial health benefits of PCVs in Chinese children and underscore the importance of expanding vaccine utilization to reduce the burden of pneumococcal disease.