You are invited to a council meeting of Native-Americans to discuss a heptavalent pneumococcal polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine (Prevnar7) for use in the community’s children, many of whom are younger than age 12 months. All of the infants and children in the community are up-to-date on standard recommended vaccinations. The council spokesperson says, “We are skeptical about the safety of giving our sons and daughters yet another vaccine.” Which of the following is the most compelling reason to recommend vaccination of all infants younger than 12 months of age?
- A) Administration of the vaccine will decrease the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease among the children in the community
- B) Administration of the vaccine will decrease the likelihood of secondary pneumonia during respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season
- C) Administration of the vaccine will significantly decrease the severity of acute otitis media and prevent hearing loss
- D) Native-American children make ineffective antibodies when the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine alone is administered to them
- E) The peak incidence of pneumococcal disease occurs in children younger than 12 months of age
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