Pfizer’s new coronavirus vaccine.
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday recommended expanding the use of the vaccine to adults ages 50 to 64 to prevent pneumococcal disease.
The agency previously recommended vaccination for adults over 65 and children under 5, as well as children and adults with certain medical conditions.
Children under 5 years of age and adults over 65 years of age are at increased risk of contracting a pneumococcal infection. Pneumococcal infections can cause infections such as lung pneumonia and are spread through contact with secretions such as saliva and mucus.
The agency’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 14-1 in favor of lowering the age for adult vaccination, giving more people the opportunity to protect themselves from the disease at an age when the risk of infection significantly increases. The CDC said.
Merck and Pfizer’s pneumococcal vaccines are currently available on the U.S. market.
“This recommendation…is an important step forward in efforts to strengthen equitable access to pneumococcal conjugate vaccines and has the potential to improve vaccination rates,” Merck said in a statement.
Merck offers three approved pneumococcal vaccines, including Vaxneuvance for individuals 6 weeks and older and Pneumovax 23 for adults 50 and older and children 2 and older.
In June, U.S. health regulators approved Capvaxive, Merck’s next-generation vaccine that helps generate an immune response against 21 serotypes of bacteria, for adults 18 and older.
Pfizer’s Prevnar 20 protects against 20 serotypes and is approved for individuals over 6 weeks of age.
