Estimating the Serotype-Specific Association Between the Concentration of Vaccine-Induced Serum Antibodies and Protection Against Pneumococcal Colonization.

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) offer indirect protection by reducing pneumococcal colonization in the vaccinated children and thus transmission. As higher-valency PCVs may trigger a weaker immune response, it is important to understand how differences in immunogenicity between PCVs translate to effectiveness against colonization.

Methods: We estimated the serotype-specific relationship between the concentration of vaccine-induced serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and protection against colonization using a hierarchical Bayesian model with the longitudinal data from a randomized controlled trial.

SARS-CoV-2 Test-to-Stay in Daycare.

Background And Objectives: Test-to-stay concepts apply serial testing of children in daycare after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 without use of quarantine. This study aims to assess the safety of a test-to-stay screening in daycare facilities.

Methods: 714 daycare facilities and approximately 50 000 children ≤6 years in Cologne, Germany participated in a SARS-CoV-2 Pool-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening from March 2021 to April 2022.

Using LASSO Regression to Estimate the Population-Level Impact of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) protect against diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, such as meningitis, bacteremia, and pneumonia. It is challenging to estimate their population-level impact due to the lack of a perfect control population and the subtleness of signals when the endpoint-such as all-cause pneumonia-is nonspecific. Here we present a new approach for estimating the impact of PCVs: using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression to select variables in a synthetic control model to predict the counterfactual outcome for vaccine impact inference.

The interactions of SARS-CoV-2 with cocirculating pathogens: Epidemiological implications and current knowledge gaps.

Despite the availability of effective vaccines, the persistence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) suggests that cocirculation with other pathogens and resulting multiepidemics (of, for example, COVID-19 and influenza) may become increasingly frequent. To better forecast and control the risk of such multiepidemics, it is essential to elucidate the potential interactions of SARS-CoV-2 with other pathogens; these interactions, however, remain poorly defined. Here, we aimed to review the current body of evidence about SARS-CoV-2 interactions.

Immunological heterogeneity informs estimation of the durability of vaccine protection.

Deciphering the properties of vaccines against an emerging pathogen is essential for optimizing immunization strategies. Early after vaccine roll-out, however, uncertainties about vaccine immunity raise the question of how much time is needed to estimate these properties, particularly the durability of vaccine protection. Here we designed a simulation study, based on a generic transmission model of vaccination, to simulate the impact of a breadth of vaccines with different mean (range: 10 months-2 years) and variability (coefficient of variation range: 50-100%) of the duration of protection.

Determining Factors for Pertussis Vaccination Policy: A Study in Five EU Countries.

Pertussis vaccination policy varies across Europe, not only in the type of vaccine-whole cell (wP) vs. acellular (aP1/2/3/5)-but also in the schedule and recommendation for parents. This study aims to investigate the determining factors for the type of vaccine, immunization schedule and maternal immunization recommendation.