Russian and Belarusian experts exchange experience in applying combined vaccination against influenza and pneumococcal infection

The scientific community has been increasingly advising to utilize combined vaccination schemes for annual immunization programs against respiratory infections. Concomitant vaccination against the most common respiratory diseases influenza and pneumococcal infection ensures a 3.7 fold decrease in the related exacerbation cases[1]. The experts presented these and other data at the Second Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Immunology Gomel International Congress.

WHO data indicate that every year about 1 billion people worldwide suffer from influenza, with 3–5 million experiencing severe course of the viral infection, resulting in 290–650 thousand deaths[2]. Young children are most vulnerable to influenza. In 2019 only, 740,180 children under 5 years old died from pneumonia[3]. Patients with chronic diseases and the elderly are also at risk.

“With flu epidemics on the rise, patients with chronic pulmonary diseases have a 120 times greater chance of dying, and for those with a concomitant cardiovascular pathology, the risk increases 400 times more,[4]
said in his speech Nikolay Briko, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, M.D., PhD, Professor, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Evidence-based Medicine of F. F. Erisman Institute of Public Health, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University.

Pneumococcal infection often also leads to severe diseases in people and high mortality rates. According to international data, pneumonia claimed 653,000 lives worldwide in 2019 only, with 125,000 people suffering from sepsis and 44,500 patients dying from meningitis[5].

“Vaccination is one of the most important methods for preventing and reducing the burden of influenza, which WHO has included in the Global Influenza Strategy. Modern immunoadjuvant influenza vaccines are primarily indicated for people in risk groups — young children, the elderly, pregnant women and patients with chronic diseases,”
noted Susanna Kharit, Prof., M.D., PhD, Head of the Infectious Disease Prevention Department of PRCCID (NIIDI), Chief External Specialist in Preventive Vaccination of the Health Committee of St. Petersburg.

Compared to immunization with monovaccines, simultaneous vaccination against influenza and pneumococcal infection makes the main functional parameters of the respiratory system more stable. Combination vaccines show positive effects in the prevention and treatment of respiratory infections[6].

According to Nikolay Briko, combined vaccination against influenza and pneumococcus provides a 3.7fold reduction in the relevant exacerbation cases, and antimicrobial therapy is then required 4.3 times less[1].

Doctors have several vaccines at their disposal to combine and thus reduce the risk of possible complications associated with influenza and pneumococcal infection. One of the options is the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Prevenar® 13, and the influenza vaccines Grippol® Plus and Grippol® Quadrivalent.

Petrovax has been manufacturing Prevenar®13 in its facilities using a full cycle production scheme for the finished dosage form and supplying it for the Russian National Schedule of Preventive Immunizations for more than 10 years.

The company’s portfolio also includes Grippol® Plus and Grippol® Quadrivalent, which are commonly used in Russia and for state immunization programs abroad. These vaccines have been developed with due regard to the current requirements for safety and efficacy and have undergone all clinical studies required. The vaccines have a favorable safety profile and, as several studies indicate, may be used in the most vulnerable groups of the population: children[7], pregnant women, the elderly, as well as patients with chronic diseases and immunodeficiencies[7][8].

The combined use of influenza and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines creates a synergistic effect not diminishing the antibody response for either vaccine[9]. Moreover, the protective properties against pneumococcus after the combination vaccine has been injected persist for 4–5 years after immunization.

Combined vaccination schemes against influenza and pneumococcus are today recommended for people aged 19 years and over, particularly the elderly people aged 65 years and beyond.


1 Kulakova N.A., Protasov A.D., Zhestkov A.V., Kostinova T.A. Vaccination against viral infections in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (literature review) // Epidemiology and Preventive Vaccination. 2012. No. 5.

2 Influenza (seasonal). WHO Bulletin.

3 Pneumonia in children WHO Bulletin.

4 M.P. Kostinov, О.А. Svitich, E.V. Markelova. Potent COVID-19 immunoprophylaxis in groups at high risk of infection. Temporary manual for physicians. - М.: MDV Group, 2020. - 60 p.

5 Global mortality associated with 33 bacterial pathogens in 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet. 21 November 2022.

6 Briko N.I., Korshunov V.A., Lobzin Yu.V., Namazova-Baranova L.S., Rudakova A.V., Simonova E.G. Ten-year experience of using 13-valent conjugate polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine in the Russian Federation. Epidemiology and Preventive Vaccination. 2023;22(4):106-139.

7 V.V. Romanenko at al. Results of a clinical study of the influenza quadrivalent inactivated subunit adjuvant vaccine Grippol Quadrivalent in children aged 6 months to 5 years (inclusive). PEDIATRIC PHARMACOLOGY / 2024 / VOLUME 21 / No. 3.

8 Kostinova, A.M.; Latysheva, E.A.; Kostinov, M.P.; Akhmatova, N.K.; Skhodova, S.A.; Vlasenko, A.E.; Cherdantsev, A.P.; Soloveva, I.L.; Khrapunova, I.A.; Loktionova, M.N.; et al. Comparison of Post-Vaccination Cellular Immune Response in Patients with Common Variable Immune Deficiency. Vaccines 2024, 12, 843.

9 Nichol KL. The additive benefits of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations during influenza seasons among elderly persons with chronic lung disease. Arch Intern Med. 1999 Nov 8;159(20):2437-4
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