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Pneumococcal (Pneumonia) Vaccines

22/27 total

Three trials evaluated pneumococcal vaccine formulations across different age groups.

CAPITA Trial (PCV13)

Bonten et al., NEJM 2015

8/9
Sample size N = 84,496
Follow-up 4 years
Reported efficacy 45.6% against vaccine-type community-acquired pneumonia; 75% against invasive pneumococcal disease
Funding Pfizer (manufacturer)
8/9 criteria met (89%)
Criterion Met
Control Group ✅
Randomized ✅
Double-Blind ✅
Placebo-Controlled ✅
Large Sample (1,000+) ✅
Long Follow-up (1yr+) ✅
Independent Funding ❌
Peer-Reviewed ✅
Results Reproduced ✅

Cochrane Review (PPSV23)

Moberley et al., Cochrane Database 2013

9/9
Sample size N = 40,000+
Follow-up 2 years
Reported efficacy ~74% against invasive pneumococcal disease (serotype-specific)
Funding Independent (Cochrane Collaboration)
9/9 criteria met (100%)
Criterion Met
Control Group ✅
Randomized ✅
Double-Blind ✅
Placebo-Controlled ✅
Large Sample (1,000+) ✅
Long Follow-up (1yr+) ✅
Independent Funding ✅
Peer-Reviewed ✅
Results Reproduced ✅

PCV20 Phase 3 Trial

Murtagh et al., Lancet Infect Dis 2022

5/9
Sample size N = 4,957
Follow-up 1 month
Reported efficacy Immunogenicity non-inferior to PCV13 (direct efficacy endpoint not studied)
Funding Pfizer (manufacturer)
5/9 criteria met (56%)
Criterion Met
Control Group ✅
Randomized ✅
Double-Blind ✅
Placebo-Controlled ❌
Large Sample (1,000+) ✅
Long Follow-up (1yr+) ❌
Independent Funding ❌
Peer-Reviewed ✅
Results Reproduced ❌

Immunogenicity trial — clinical efficacy against pneumonia not directly measured.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Criterion CAPITA Trial (PCV13)Cochrane Review (PPSV23)PCV20 Phase 3 Trial
Control Group✅✅✅
Randomized✅✅✅
Double-Blind✅✅✅
Placebo-Controlled✅✅❌
Large Sample (1,000+)✅✅✅
Long Follow-up (1yr+)✅✅❌
Independent Funding❌✅❌
Peer-Reviewed✅✅✅
Results Reproduced✅✅❌
Total score 8/99/95/9
Methodology note: A lower score does not mean a vaccine is unsafe or ineffective. It means the published evidence has methodological gaps — shorter follow-up, manufacturer funding, or non-standard controls. We evaluate methodology only. Consult your healthcare provider about vaccination decisions.
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