Auckland harbours the complete clinical spectrum of severe acute GAS disease, according to a population-based study, making it an ideal location for future vaccine studies. The cross-sectional study captured all hospitalised GAS infections and toxin- and immune-mediated disease cases associated with hospitalisation in Auckland during 2023. A total of 606 cases were captured, corresponding to 1:2000 people/year. The burden of cases was inequitably distributed across the population, with approximately 1:400 Pacific children aged <10 years and 1:200 Pacific adults aged ≥80 years affected annually in the most deprived areas. Direct hospitalisation costs were greater than NZD 13.2 million.
