In Afghanistan, childhood deaths from pneumonia are high. Among 639 children at 1 hospital, the case-fatality rate was 12.1%, and 46.8% of pneumococcal serotypes detected were covered by the 13-valent vaccine. Most deaths occurred within 2 days of hospitalization; newborns and malnourished children were at risk. Vaccination could reduce pneumonia and deaths.
Keywords: Afghanistan; Japan; Streptococcus pneumoniae; United Kingdom; anemia; bacteria; child; malnutrition; mortality; pneumococcal infections; pneumococcal vaccines; pneumonia; serogroup.