Objective  To examine the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of pneumonia among children aged < 5 years in Ningbo city and to provide evidences for developing child pneumonia prevention and control strategies.

  Methods  We collected data on pneumonia cases of under 5 years old registered in Ningbo city from January 1st to December 31st, 2016 via Ningbo municipal health information platform. Then we analyzed the incidence and characteristics of the pneumonia epidemic.

  Results  During the year, totally 3 207 person-times (2 722 cases) of under 5-year pneumonia incidents were reported among permanent residents in Ningbo city, with an incidence rate of 1.52%; the number of reported cases was 1 822 (1 574 cases) and 1 385 (1 185 cases) person-times for the boys and girls, with the incidence rate of 1.68% and 1.35%, respectively. The incidence rate was higher in the 1- and 3-year old children (1.91% and 2.33%) and the lowest among 4-year old children (0.85%). The incidence rate was higher in January and from October to December and the number registered in the four months accounted for 54.29% of the all cases registered in the year. Of all the registered cases, 87.16% (2 416) and 10.71% (297) had the disease incident once and twice, respectively; 9.99% (277) and 12.95% (359) had the vaccination history of 7-valent and 23-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; and 5.92% (164) had the vaccination history of 2015 – 2016 seasonal influenza vaccine.

  Conclusion  Pneumonia incidence is higher during autumn-winter season among children aged < 5 years in Ningbo city and the incidence is higher among the children aged 1- and 3-year old; the inoculation rate of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is low among the children.