Pneumococcal, HPV Vaccination Reduce Children’s ENT Disease Burden

With pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) proving vital for the reduction of diseases in the eye, nose, and throat (ENT), human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination also demonstrates its effect as the first line of defense against new infections, according to a study published in Children.¹ When combining the findings among both PCVs and HPV vaccination, researchers uncovered further evidence that highlights vaccination in general as a “cornerstone of pediatric care.”

“Vaccinations are a cornerstone of primary prevention in pediatric otolaryngology and play a critical role in reducing the burden of pediatric infectious diseases, particularly acute otitis media (AOM) and HPV-related infections,” wrote the authors of the study. “The introduction and widespread use of PCVs have been associated with substantial changes in the epidemiology of pediatric AOM, particularly through reductions in vaccine serotype disease and complicated forms, while contributing to changes in pathogen distribution with an increased role of nonvaccine serotypes and nonpneumococcal bacteria, requiring continuous epidemiological surveillance.”

The evolution of PCVs from the initial 7-valent and 10-valent formulations to more recent options like PCV15 and PCV20 has significantly altered the pediatric health landscape by reducing severe AOM complications as well as the need for surgical interventions.¹

READ MORE: Lowered Pneumococcal Vaccination Age Has Yet to Close Awareness Gap

Recent meta-analyses indicate that the implementation of these vaccines is associated with a 22.2% reduction in the need for such surgical procedures. However, this success is balanced by a shifting microbiological environment where nonvaccine serotypes and other bacteria, such as Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis, have become more prominent causes of disease.

For pharmacists, this epidemiological shift emphasizes the necessity for continuous education and rigorous antibiotic stewardship to manage emerging resistant strains effectively.^1,2

The role of HPV vaccination extends these preventive benefits into the realm of long-term oncological risk reduction, specifically targeting oropharyngeal cancers that typically manifest in adulthood. Although direct evidence of reduced cancer incidence is still developing due to the long latency of these malignancies, the vaccine is proven to be highly effective at preventing the initial oral infections that are a necessary precursor to disease.¹

Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to address the widespread misinformation that often hinders HPV vaccine uptake. Common myths, such as concerns regarding future infertility or an unfounded fear that vaccination will lead to an increase in adolescent sexual activity, continue to fuel vaccine hesitancy, according to the American Pharmacists Association.³

By leveraging evidence-based data, such as studies involving over 2000 females showing no link to infertility, pharmacists can build the trust necessary to improve vaccination rates across diverse populations.

The Pediatric Pharmacy Association (PPA) has recently advocated for the expansion of pharmacist authority to provide routine immunizations to children as young as 3 years old. As the most accessible health care providers, pharmacists have already demonstrated their ability to significantly increase immunization rates when permitted to do so, particularly in rural and underserved communities, as stated in the Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics.⁴

In clinical settings, the addition of a pharmacist on pediatric teams has been shown to reduce missed immunization opportunities and errors. For instance, one pharmacist-led initiative at a cystic fibrosis ambulatory clinic saw age-appropriate pneumococcal vaccination rates jump from 27% to 99%.

Despite these successes, a recent study in South Carolina found that many community pharmacists still face significant barriers to optimal service, including limited knowledge of complex and often confusing CDC guidelines. Financial constraints and a lack of institutional resources also remain hurdles in maximizing the impact of pharmacy-based immunization services.⁵

To address these gaps, the PPA recommends that pharmacists participate in pediatric-specific continuing education and gain better access to state immunization information systems to ensure accurate documentation. Furthermore, enrolling in the Vaccines for Children program can help bridge the access gap for patients with Medicaid or those who are uninsured.⁴

By acting as educators and facilitators within interdisciplinary teams, pharmacists ensure that the preventive power of vaccination is supported by comprehensive, patient-centered care. This holistic approach not only reduces the immediate burden of ENT diseases but also secures long-term health outcomes for the pediatric population.^1,2,5

“PCVs have been associated with significant reductions in pneumococcal and complicated AOM, although they do not prevent all episodes because of the multifactorial etiology of the disease and the emergence of nonvaccine serotypes and other bacterial pathogens,” concluded the authors of the current study.¹ “Similarly, HPV vaccination should be routinely recommended before exposure to the virus, as it effectively prevents new infections with vaccine-type HPV but does not eliminate established infection or treat existing HPV-related lesions.”

READ MORE: Pneumococcal Resource Center

REFERENCES

1. Ungaro C, Oliva F, Ricciardiello G, et al. The role of pneumococcal and human papillomavirus vaccination in preventing otolaryngological diseases: implications for pediatric practice. Children (Basel). 2026 Jul 21;13(7):958. doi: 10.3390/children13070958

2. Kojtek A, Skarzynska MB. The clinical pharmacist’s role in the ENT perioperative period: preliminary results from 30 patients. J Hear Sci. 2025;15(1):25-29. doi:10.17430/jhs/203102

3. Sartain M. HPV vaccinations: a pharmacist’s role in addressing misinformation. American Pharmacists Association. January 10, 2023. Accessed August 3, 2026. https://www.pharmacist.com/Publications/Transitions/hpv-vaccinations-a-pharmacists-role-in-addressing-misinformation

4. Girotto JE, Klein KC, Cober MP, et al. Pharmacists as partners in pediatric immunizations: a white paper from the Pediatric Pharmacy Association. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2024 Dec;29(6):660-666. doi: 10.5863/1551-6776-29.6.660

5. How informed are community pharmacists about pneumococcal vaccines? US Pharmacist. February 19, 2025. Accessed August 3, 2026. https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/how-informed-are-community-pharmacists-about-pneumococcal-vaccines