Conceptual illustration of human lungs and close-up view of viruses

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published newly simplified recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination in the elderly and immunocompromised.

The changes, published Friday in the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, are an endorsement of a unanimous vote by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that the guidance be clarified following a review of vaccine efficacy and cost issues. 

For patients who have never received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (or for whom vaccination status is unknown), the CDC recommends the following: that the vaccines PCV15 (Vaxneuvance) or PCV20 (Prevnar 20) be available to adults aged 65 years or older and to adults ages 19 through 64 years old with certain medical conditions or risk factors. 

If PCV15 is used, it typically should be followed by a dose of PPSV23 (Pneumovax 23) one year later, the agency stated. 

The new guidance also covers dosing schedules, vaccination for adults who were previously vaccinated with either PPSV23 or PCV13, and co-administration with other vaccines. A proposed amendment to lower the age for offering PCV20 to 50 years old was rejected by ACIP. 

Pneumococcal vaccines protect against multiple streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria serotypes, which can cause pneumonia and respiratory failure. Two of the vaccines are relatively new. The Food and Drug Administration approved Prevnar 20 in June 2021 and Vaxneuvance in July 2021.