FX.co ★ Merck : CDC Recommends CAPVAXIVE For Pneumococcal Vaccination In Adults 50 And Older

Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) has announced an update regarding its pneumococcal vaccination recommendations for adults from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). This updated guideline involves the inclusion of CAPVAXIVE, a 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, for adults aged 50 and older.

According to the revised ACIP guidelines, a single dose of CAPVAXIVE is recommended for adults 50 and older who either have not previously received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or have an unknown vaccination history. It also extends to adults aged 19-49 who have specific underlying medical conditions or risk factors and have not received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine before. Furthermore, the guidelines cover adults aged 19 and older who began their pneumococcal vaccination series with PCV13 but have not completed all PPSV23 dose requirements.

Merck emphasizes the importance of shared clinical decision-making for adults aged 65 and older who have completed their vaccine regimen with both PCV13 and PPSV23 in considering an additional CAPVAXIVE dose.

CAPVAXIVE is specifically approved for active immunization in preventing invasive disease and pneumonia among adults 18 years and older. It has been engineered to target Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes, focusing on those responsible for invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in adults. Notably, CAPVAXIVE addresses eight unique serotypes—15A, 15C, 16F, 23A, 23B, 24F, 31, and 35B—differentiating it from other available pneumococcal vaccines. It is administered as a single dose.