ACIP Lowers Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendation to Age 50

The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) voted 14:1 to expand recommendations for the use of certain pneumococcal vaccines to include ages 50 years and older. Mandy Cohen, director of the CDC, endorsed the recommendation for lowering the age of pneumococcal vaccination.^1,2 The recommendation is now pending final approval by the Department of Health and Human Services.¹

Pneumonia. Pneumococcal, Immunization | Image Credit: mi_viri - stock.adobe.com

“Today is a good day for the health of American adults. After raising the issue 3 years ago, ACIP has finally done the right thing by lowering the recommendation for all adults aged 50 and older to receive pneumococcal vaccines. This recommendation will improve vaccination rates generally, but importantly for populations most at need—including immunocompromised adults and minority populations,” Bob Blancato, executive director of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs, in a news release.³

The CDC suggests that adults 50 years and older should talk with a health care provider to determine their needs for a pneumococcal vaccination. As part of the recommendation, the CDC recommends the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20, Prevnar 20; Pfizer) and pneumococcal 21-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV21, Capvaxive; Merck).^1,4

For PCV20, the ACIP recommends vaccination for all adults 50 years and older and for adults aged 19 to 49 years with certain underlying conditions or risk factors who have not received a PCV or whose vaccination history is unknown. For PCV21, the ACIP recommends a single dose for adults 50 years and older who have previously received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or whose previous vaccination history is unknown, adults aged 19 to 49 years with certain underlying medical conditions or other risk factors who have not previously received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or whose previous vaccination history is unknown, and adults 19 years and older who started a vaccination series with pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine, but have not received all recommended pneumococcal 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) doses.^1,4

New results from the STRIDE-8 (NCT05696080) trial evaluating PCV21 showed the efficacy of the vaccine in adults 18 to 64 years with an increased risk of pneumococcal disease among those who had not been previously vaccinated. The results showed the PCV21 was immunogenic for all 21 strains included in the vaccine at day 30, and the immune responses were comparable to the combination of PCV15 and PPSV23.⁵

PCV20 was shown to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease caused by 20 serotypes among infants and children from 6 weeks to 17 years of age as well as prevent otitis media in infants aged 6 weeks to 5 years. The vaccine covers the 13 serotypes from PCV13 and 7 additional serotypes that cause invasive disease.⁶

REFERENCES

1. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommends Prevnar 20 (20-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine) for Adults Aged 50 and Older. News release. Pfizer. October 23, 2024. Accessed October 24, 2024. https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/advisory-committee-immunization-practices-recommends

2. CDC Recommends Lowering the Age for Pneumococcal Vaccination from 65 to 50 Years Old. CDC. October 23, 2024. Accessed October 24, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s1023-pneumococcal-vaccination.html

3. NANASP: ACIP does the right thing to protect adults from pneumonia. News release. NANASP. October 23, 2024. Accessed October 24, 2024.

4. CDC’S ACIP Recommends Merck’s Capvaxive (Pneumococcal 21-valent Conjugate Vaccine) for Pneumococcal Vaccination in Adults 50 Years of Age and Older. News release. October 23, 2024. Accessed October 24, 2024. https://www.merck.com/news/cdcs-acip-recommends-mercks-capvaxive-pneumococcal-21-valent-conjugate-vaccine-for-pneumococcal-vaccination-in-adults-50-years-of-age-and-older/

5. Gallagher A. Study: Serotype 3 Remains Prevalent Among Older Adults With Community-Acquired Pneumonia. Pharmacy Times. January 18, 2024. Accessed October 24, 2024. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/study-serotype-3-remains-prevalent-among-older-adults-with-community-acquired-pneumonia

6. Halpern L. Pneumococcal 21-Valent Conjugate Vaccine Generates Positive Response in Adults at Increased Risk of Disease. Pharmacy Times. October 21, 2024. Accessed October 24, 2024. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/pneumococcal-21-valent-conjugate-vaccine-generates-positive-response-in-adults-at-increased-risk-of-disease