Strep Vaccine

This health video explores the new vaccine that protects against Strep, which although can be harmless in other cases can be fatal.

Jennifer Mathews: Every year, 10 million people develop a strep infection. Karen Kotloff: Strep throat is one of the most common reasons that children go to see their pediatricians. Jennifer Mathews: The throat is the most common target area but the same bacteria that strep throat called Group A Streptococcus can also cause skin infections. Karen Kotloff: About 1,500 people die each year from the serious invasive strep infections and probably ten times that develop the infections. Jennifer Mathews: Doctor Karen Kotloff led a pilot study on a vaccine to prevent strep infections. In her study, Doctor Kotloff found the vaccine produced an immune response to the bacteria in all 28 adults. In a nutshell, it works. Robin Perry, a hospital research assistant joined the study in part because she just doesn’t want to strep throat again. Robin Perry: You can’t eat, you can’t, you know, drink. It’s the best diet for everybody. It’s not really though how you want to lose your weight. Jennifer Mathews: Robin feels protected after getting the vaccine. Robin Perry: I feel protected, like you know how to. Jennifer Mathews: The vaccine is not available to the public yet. The next step is to study it in more and younger people. Karen Kotloff: I really hope that we can continue to progress and offer the vaccine that we can give to children. Jennifer Mathews: When studies are completed, doctor Kotloff says the vaccine could be given along with other childhood vaccines. This is Jennifer Mathews reporting.