No 43a - 2025

Change in the Pneumococcal Vaccine for Children in the Childhood Vaccination Program

Starting November 1, 2025, the pneumococcal vaccine used in the Danish childhood vaccination program will change. The current 13-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (Prevenar13^®) will gradually be replaced by the 15-valent vaccine Vaxneuvance^®.

Vaxneuvance^® covers the same 13 serotypes as Prevenar13^® and additionally provides protection against serotypes 22F and 33F, which can also cause serious pneumococcal diseases such as invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia.

Vaccination and Dosage

• Children who have already received one or more doses of Prevenar13^® should complete their vaccination series with the same vaccine, as long as it can still be obtained from Statens Serum Institut (SSI).
• It is expected that children who have started their vaccination series with Prevenar13^® will be able to complete the full series with this vaccine.
• Children starting vaccination after November 1, 2025, will be offered Vaxneuvance^®. The vaccine is administered in three doses of 0.5 ml at 3, 5, and 12 months of age.

Service Codes

Billing continues to use the service code 8344.

Product Information

• Vaxneuvance (EMA)

Ordering the pneumococcal vaccine for the program

The vaccine must be ordered through the SSI Webshop, which is expected to open for orders from Monday, October 20.

Delivery

SSI will deliver Vaxneuvance starting in week 43, on the usual delivery day.

(L. Hallundbæk, P.H. Andersen, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, G. Germod, Supply Division)

European training to become field epidemiologists (EPIET) or field microbiologists (EUPHEM)

It is once again possible to apply for the two-year European training program for field epidemiologists, EPIET (European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training).

During the training, participants gain skills in surveillance and control of infectious diseases, outbreak detection and management, applied research, communication, and more. The training takes place as a two-year posting in another European country. It is “on-the-job training”, meaning that trainees receive a salary during the program. Applicants are expected to have a relevant educational background, prior experience in public health, and an interest in applied epidemiology.

It is also possible to apply for a similar two-year European training program for microbiologists, EUPHEM (European Public Health Microbiology Training). This program also involves a two-year posting in another European country. Trainees will gain skills in performing independent laboratory work related to surveillance and control of infectious diseases, outbreak detection and management, applied research, communication, and more. Applicants are expected to have at least three years of work experience in microbiology or a PhD, as well as an interest in applied microbiology.

Both programs are offered by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and begin with a joint three-week introductory course in mid-September 2026.

Applicants to EPIET and EUPHEM must be citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway and have good English language skills. The application deadline is October 30, 2025.

Further information can be found on the ECDC website or by contacting Steen Ethelberg (set@ssi.dk), Head of Section, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention (EPIET) or Rune Stensvold (run@ssi.dk), Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi (EUPHEM).

(Statens Serum Institut)