What is the impact of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine on public health?
The introduction of the PCV has significantly reduced the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in both vaccinated and unvaccinated populations through the phenomenon of herd immunity. Herd immunity occurs when a significant portion of the population is vaccinated, thereby reducing the overall amount of the pathogen and providing indirect protection to those who are not vaccinated.
