CDC committee endorses Pfizer pneumonia vaccine

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) committee has recommended Prevnar 13 [Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine] for routine use to help protect adults aged 65 years and older against pneumococcal disease, Pfizer announced.

“Immunization with Prevnar 13 can play an important role in helping to reduce the incidence and burden of vaccine-type pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal disease among adults 65 years of age or older,” said Luis Jodar, PhD, vice president, Vaccines, Global Medicines Development Group and Scientific Affairs. “

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The CDC committee recommended:

·  Adults 65 years of age or older who have not previously received pneumococcal vaccine or whose previous vaccination history is unknown receive a dose of PCV13 first, followed by a dose of PPSV23.

·  Adults 65 years of age or older who have not previously received PCV13 and who have previously received one or more doses of PPSV23 receive a dose of PCV13

·   The recommendations for PCV13 vaccination use among adults 65 years and older* be re-evaluated in 2018. 

The recommendations will be forwarded to the director of the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for approval.