Pneumococcus is a leading cause of bacterial pneumonia in individuals with HIV and is also more common in pregnant and early postpartum HIV-infected women. Now, new research suggests which pneumococcal vaccination works best to help protect pregnant women with HIV. Westat staff members Lauren Laimon, M.S., and Lassallete Newton are among the coauthors of a journal article regarding the immunogenicity of PCV-10 and PPV-23 administered antepartum or postpartum. The findings support that PPV-23 may be prioritized in women with HIV on antiretroviral therapy.
The findings, Immunogenicity of conjugated and polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccines administered during pregnancy or postpartum to women with HIV, appear in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
“This study helped support that antibody responses were higher after postpartum versus antepartum vaccination and that PPV-23 may be prioritized in women with HIV on antiretroviral therapy by showing that PPV-23 covered more serotypes,” says Laimon.
