An advisory group to the CDC recommended a single dose of Prevnar 20 (pneumococcal 20-valent conjugate vaccine) to help protect adults who were previously vaccinated against pneumococcal infection.

Specifically, the ACIP voted to add that vaccination for those who previously received Prevnar 13 (pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine [diphtheria CRM197 protein]) or both Prevnar 13 and pneumococcal polysaccharide 23-valent vaccine (PPSV23). Prevnar 20 protects against invasive disease and pneumonia caused by the 20 Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) serotypes.

Adults who have received PCV13 only are recommended to receive a dose of PCV20 at least 1 year after the PCV13 dose or PPSV23 as previously recommended to complete their pneumococcal vaccine series.

The guidance is a bit different for adults with an immunocompromising condition, cochlear implant, or cerebrospinal fluid leak who have received both PCV13 and PPSV23 with incomplete vaccination status. They are recommended to complete their pneumococcal vaccine series by receiving either a dose of PCV20 at least 5 years after the last pneumococcal vaccine dose or PPSV23 as previously recommended.

The guidance calls for shared clinical decision-making for adults aged 65 years and older who completed their vaccine series with both PCV13 and PPSV23. If a decision to administer PCV20 is made, a dose of PCV20 is recommended at least 5 years after the last pneumococcal vaccine dose.

"Today's vote underscores the importance of Prevnar 20 and its seven additional serotypes helping prevent invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia among adults," stated Luis Jodar, Infectious Disease and Evidence Generation, Chief Medical Affairs Officer at Pfizer. "We commend the ACIP and CDC for recognizing the public health benefit and further clarifying the adult pneumococcal pneumonia recommendations. We are confident this will help improve vaccination rates and ultimately reduce disease burden in this population."

At this point, the ACIP recommendations are provisional but will be forwarded to the director of the CDC and the United States Department of Health and Human Services for review and approval. Final recommendations will be published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

"With more than 26 million adults over the age of 19 who have been previously vaccinated with Prevnar 13, today's ACIP vote recognizes the importance of helping to protect them against the seven additional serotypes contained in Prevnar 20," said Angela Hwang, president of Global Biopharma Business at Pfizer.

About a year ago, the ACIP recommended routine use of one dose of Pfizer's Prevnar 20 in adults aged 65 years or older who have not previously received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or whose previous vaccination history is unknown. Also recommended to receive the vaccine were adults aged 19 years or older with certain underlying medical conditions, such as asthma or diabetes, or other risk factors who have not previously received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, or whose previous vaccination history was unknown.

Prevnar 20 is Pfizer's next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that includes capsular polysaccharide conjugates for the 13 serotypes (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F) already included in Prevnar 13 (pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine [diphtheria CRM197 rotein]). The vaccine also contains capsular polysaccharide conjugates for seven additional serotypes (8, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B, 22F and 33F) that cause invasive pneumococcal disease and have been associated with high case-fatality rates, antibiotic resistance, and/or meningitis.

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