NEW YORK — U.S. health officials have recommended that people aged 50 and older receive a vaccination against bacteria that can cause pneumonia and other serious illnesses.
The recommendation, made by a scientific advisory panel and approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lowers the minimum recommended age for older adults to receive the shot from 65.
“Now is an ideal time to get vaccinated against pneumococcal disease in preparation for the winter respiratory season,” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen stated Wednesday night.
The advisory committee voted 14-1 to implement the change during a meeting earlier in the day in Atlanta. This guidance is widely followed by doctors and prompts health insurers to cover the cost of recommended vaccinations.
Pneumococcal vaccination recommendations are sometimes considered the most complex vaccination guidance issued by the government. The CDC currently recommends the vaccine for children under 5 and adults aged 65 or older, as long as they have not previously been vaccinated against pneumococcal disease. Officials also advise vaccination for children and adults at increased risk for pneumococcal disease, such as those with diabetes, chronic liver disease, or a compromised immune system.
There are over 100 recognized types of pneumococci bacteria, which can cause severe infections in the lungs and other parts of the body. The U.S. experiences approximately 30,000 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease annually, including blood infections, brain and spinal cord inflammation, and other illnesses. About 30% of cases occur in individuals aged 50 to 64.
The first pneumococcal vaccine was licensed in the U.S. in 1977. Since then, pharmaceutical companies have developed newer versions that target a dozen or more types in a single dose. Different vaccines have come and gone, including Pfizer’s Prevnar 13, which was once a top seller but is no longer available.
Currently, four vaccines are in use. This year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the newest—Merck’s Capvaxive, which can cost around $300 per dose and protects against 21 types, including eight not covered by other pneumococcal vaccines. A Merck spokesperson stated that it was specifically designed to help protect against the bacteria types responsible for the majority of severe illness in adults aged 50 and older.
In June, the CDC advisory panel recommended the vaccine as an option for adults at higher risk. The committee also discussed the possibility of lowering the age recommendation for older adults. They noted that illness-causing infections peak at ages 55 to 59 in Black Americans—a younger age than observed in white individuals. However, the committee deferred this decision until this week’s meeting.
Some concerns remain: A booster shot may be required, potentially in about 15 years. Additionally, some new vaccines are in development, which could necessitate further updates to the recommendations.
“Pneumococcal vaccination recommendations have been quite confusing for many years, and it’s challenging to have a new recommendation every two or three years,” said Dr. Jamie Loehr, chair of the committee’s pneumococcal working group. He was the sole vote against the proposal.