Research suggests that vaccination with streptococcus pyogenes group A carbohydrate may not elicit cross-reactive rheumatic fever autoantibodies, which could have implications for the development of a strep A vaccine. There is currently no vaccine for strep A, despite its significant impact, with some reports indicating it kills a substantial number of people each year. The lack of a vaccine has sparked debate and discussion about the need for one, amid a reported increase in invasive group A streptococcus infections.