U.S. health officials have recently recommended that people aged 50 and older get vaccinated against pneumonia and other illnesses caused by the pneumococcal bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention accepted the recommendation to lower the minimum age for older adults to receive the shot from 65 to 50.
The advisory committee voted 14-1 in favor of the change, highlighting the importance of getting vaccinated ahead of the upcoming winter respiratory season. Pneumococcal disease can lead to serious infections in the lungs and other parts of the body, with about 30% of cases occurring in the 50- to 64-year-old age group.
There are now four vaccines available to protect against pneumococcal disease, with the newest one approved by the FDA this year being Merck’s Capvaxive. This vaccine offers protection against 21 types of bacteria, including eight not covered by other vaccines. While concerns about the need for a booster shot in the future and the development of new vaccines have been raised, the current recommendation aims to provide the best protection against severe illness.
The CDC advisory panel’s decision comes after many years of complicated recommendations regarding pneumococcal vaccination, and it seeks to simplify the guidelines and offer the most effective protection against the disease. Dr. Jamie Loehr, chair of the committee’s pneumococcal working group, raised concerns about the frequency of updates to the recommendations but ultimately recognized the importance of the new guidance for older adults.
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