New recommendations out for pneumococcal vaccine in high-risk adults

ATLANTA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has updated its recommendations for pneumococcal vaccine in high-risk adults.

ACIP now recommends the use of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13; Prevnar 13) for high-risk adults ages 19 years or older. The committee recommends that PCV13 should be administered to eligible adults in addition to the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23; Pneumovax 23), the vaccine currently recommended for these groups of adults.

Those at high risk include patients with immunocompromising conditions, functional or anatomic asplenia, cerebrospinal fluid leaks or cochlear implants.

Click here to access the report, which outlines the new ACIP recommendations for PCV13 use, explains the recommendations for the use of PCV13 and PPSV23 among high-risk adults, and summarizes the evidence.