Severe Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Caused by Serotype 19A in Children Under Five Years in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.

The use of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine with lower valency and easing of COVID-19 containment measures each may have contributed to an increase in IPD in AoNZ. Serotype 19A is associated with empyema and causes severe disease in young children. Urgent efforts are required to improve PCV13 coverage in AoNZ.