A status survey on pneumococcal vaccine coverage for splenectomized patients

Abstract

A status survey on the coverage of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, which is covered by the Japanese National Health Insurance for splenectomized patients, was conducted by the Japan Society for Surgical Infection. While most physicians emphasize the risk of overwhelming post-splenectomy infection and the preventive role of the pneumococcal vaccination for these patients, some do not. The timing of vaccination varied, either before the initiation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy or before and after surgery in patients with pancreatic cancer. Factors contributing to this variation include the uncertainty about insurance coverage, a lack of evidence supporting the optimal timing of vaccination in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and the prioritization of cancer treatment over vaccination. These findings suggest that the development of recommendations or guidelines for pneumococcal vaccination in splenectomized patients is essential for surgeons and emergency physicians.