EC Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine

With varying serotype coverage, pneumococcal polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines are recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for children ≤ 5 years of age, adults ≥ 50 years of age, and children and adults at increased risk of pneumococcal disease (PD) [1,2]. With a favorable safety profile, pneumococcal vaccines have a long history of use and have been demonstrated to be immunogenic and effective [3]. These vaccines with the mainstay of disease prevention and have contributed to a substantial decrease in cases of respiratory disease burden, invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), and healthcare utilization [4,5]. The 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is a widely used pneumococcal vaccine (PPSV23; Pneumovax^® 23, Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck and Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA [MSD]). PPSV23 is indicated for the prevention of PD in older adults ≥ 50 years of age and individuals ≥ 2 years of age with certain medical conditions that can contribute to an increased risk of PD. PPSV23 contains 23 different serotypes of Streptococcal pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) (serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 8, 9N, 9V, 10A, 11A, 12F, 14, 15B, 17F, 18C, 19A, 19F, 20, 22F, 23F, and 33F) [6-10]. A 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15; VAXNEUVANCE™, MSD) is indicated in individuals ≥6 weeks of age for the prevention of IPD and pneumonia, and in individuals 6 weeks to ≤18 years of age for acute otitis media, caused by S. pneumoniae serotypes contained in the vaccine (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F, and 33F) is also available in many countries [11]. The CDC recommends that, in adults, administration of PCV15 should be followed by a single dose of PPSV23 one year later [10,12].

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2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Pneumococcal vaccine recommendations” (2025).
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7. Food and Drug Administration. VAXNEUVANCE™ (Pneumococcal 15-valent conjugate vaccine) prescribing information (2025).
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10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine information statement” (2025).
11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Meeting of the advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP)” (2025).
12. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Summary of risk-based pneumococcal vaccination recommendations” (2025).
13. World Health Organisation. “Statement on the fifteenth meeting of the IHR (2005) Emergency Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic” (2023).
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