WA baby makes history as trial of new pneumococcal vaccine gets underway at Perth Children’s Hospital

He may be only four months old, but little Eric Yap has already made history. The adorable son of Perth doctors Cameron and Aisling Yap is the first baby in the world to receive a new, potentially life-saving, pneumococcal vaccine as part of an international trial testing the jab’s safety and efficacy. The new vaccine protects against 21 types of pneumococci, bacteria which are responsible for serious and potentially deadly medical conditions including pneumonia, sinusitis, meningitis, and the blood infection bacteraemia. It is hoped it will eventually replace the existing pneumococcal vaccine administered to babies at six weeks, four months and 12 months under Australia’s National Immunisation Program. This only offers protection against 13 types of pneumococci. Eric received the vaccine at Perth Children’s Hospital, one of six Australian sites taking part in the study, which aims to recruit more than 1600 babies across the world. Perth Children’s Hospital head of immunology, Professor Peter Richmond, who heads the Vaccine Trials Group at the Kids Research Institute Australia, is overseeing the study and hopes to recruit 40 WA babies to take part. PCH was the first participating site in the world to receive the necessary approvals to begin the trial, making Eric the first baby internationally to receive the vaccine. “That’s really pleasing to be able to get a process started that is going to be very important for children in the future,” Professor Richmond said. There are 90 different strains of pneumococci but the majority of illness is caused by the 20 strains covered in the new vaccine. “We’re still looking for parents with babies (younger than six weeks) who haven’t yet started their vaccines to take part,” Professor Richmond said. “We hope that because this vaccine gives much broader protection than current vaccines, it will be attractive for parents to come into the study to both help the next generation but better protect their young infants from pneumococcal disease. “This vaccine will be going a long way, we hope, to improving protection and reducing the number of children who are sick and have to go and see their doctor or get antibiotics or come into the hospital.” Mrs Yap said she and her husband had no hesitation in participating in the trial. “We have seen a lot of patients with nasty conditions arising from these bacteria, so we were very comfortable having Eric participate,” she said. “We know how important this research is, so we are pleased Eric has been able to contribute to it.” Participation takes place over 21 months, during which time babies will receive a pneumococcal vaccine as well as the standard vaccines as part of the national immunisation program. The study is in its final phase and Professor Richmond said if proven to be safe and well tolerated, the vaccine could be licensed within three to five years. Interested families with babies younger than six weeks who are yet to receive their first immunisations can call 0400 450 240 or email pneumo21@thekids.org.au