BACKGROUND: In March 2008, Uruguay included PCV7 into the routine vaccination program, in a 2 + 1 schedule for @entity1 <2 years of age. Catch-up immunization was offered to @entity1 born in 2007. Greater than 95% of @entity1 received their first and second doses. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of this strategy. METHODS: Annual hospitalization rates (per 10,000 discharges) for @entity497 ( @entity497 ) in @entity1 <14 years of age and @entity2506 are described prior to PCV7 vaccination (2005-2007), during the year of implementation (2008) and following vaccine introduction (2009). Data regarding age, diagnosis, vaccination status, and pneumococcal serotype were obtained from Hospital Pereira Rossell databases and vaccination records. RESULTS: Comparison of hospitalization rates for @entity497 and pneumococcal- @entity497 (P- @entity497 ) between prevaccine years (2005-2007) and the year after vaccination (2009) decreased significantly in all @entity1 by 56% and 48.2%, respectively. Significant reduction was observed for vaccine serotype P- @entity497 (serotype 14 P- @entity497 decreased from 26.6 to 2.5 per 10,000 discharges) in @entity1 <2 years of age. A significant reduction in @entity2506 of 59% was seen in this age group; median rates prevaccination decreased from 17 (12.2-24.9) to 7 (3-11.8) after the administration of vaccine. No vaccine failures for P- @entity497 or @entity2506 were seen in fully immunized @entity1 . CONCLUSIONS: One year after PCV7 introduction into the routine vaccination schedule of Uruguay, there was a rapid and significant @entity497 , and @entity2506 in @entity1 <2 years of age.

Impact of universal pneumococcal vaccination on hospitalizations for pneumonia and meningitis in XXXX in Montevideo, Uruguay.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children'] @entity497 :: ('MESH:D003147', 'Disease') :: ['CAP', 'reduction in rates of CAP, P-CAP', 'community-acquired pneumonia'] @entity2506 :: ('MESH:D008586', 'Disease') :: ['pneumococcal meningitis']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['children']
