PCV13 Is Effective in Middle-Aged Adults

Adults younger than age 50 years who are at-risk for community-acquired pneumonia should receive the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), according to a recent review.

While adults aged 65 years or older and adults who are immunocompromised are recommended to receive PCV13, adults younger than 50 years with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, are not recommended to receive the vaccine.
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In their review, the researchers examined the burden of community-acquired pneumonia and the immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine among adults younger than 50 years, as well as current pneumococcal vaccination recommendations.

The researchers found that the vaccine would have similar benefits for this patient population based on data that showed that immune responses among younger adults were comparable or better than older adults and that the vaccine was effective against vaccine-serotype invasive pneumococcal.

“Recommending PCV13 for at-risk adults aged [younger than 50 years] would provide direct immunologic benefit of a conjugate vaccine and could address an important unmet medical need for pneumococcal pneumonia prevention,” the researchers concluded. “Although not directly addressed here, this benefit would likely extend to at-risk adults aged 50-64 years.”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Isturiz RE, Hall-Murray C, McLaughlin JM, et al. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine use for the prevention of pneumococcal disease in adults <50 years of age [published online December 6, 2017]. Expert Rev Vaccines. https://doi.org/10.1080/14760584.2018.1411196.