Lowering the age gives more adults the opportunity to protect themselves from pneumococcal disease at an age when the risk of infection increases, according to the CDC.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Expanded Protection for Older Adults: Lowering the recommended age for pneumococcal vaccination from 65 to 50 aims to protect more adults from pneumococcal disease as their risk increases with age.
- Serious Health Risks from Pneumococcal Disease: Pneumococcal bacteria can lead to severe illnesses, such as pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections, making early vaccination critical for disease prevention.
- CDC Encourages Provider Discussions: The CDC advises adults 50 and older to consult with healthcare providers to ensure they are up to date on pneumococcal vaccinations.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to update the adult age-based pneumococcal vaccination guidelines and recommend lowering the age for pneumococcal vaccination from 65 to 50 years old.
CDC director Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, endorsed the recommendation.
According to the CDC, lowering the age for pneumococcal vaccination gives more adults the opportunity to protect themselves from pneumococcal disease at the age when risk of infection substantially increases. Pneumococcal bacteria can cause serious illnesses, including pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections, and older adults are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease.
“The CDC’s decision to lower the age-based vaccination recommendations to begin at age 50 has the potential to be a practice-changing milestone,” says Eliav Barr, senior vice president, head of global clinical development and chief medical officer, Merck Research Laboratories, in a release. “This recommendation is a significant step forward in efforts to enhance equitable access and may improve vaccination rates. We’re pleased about this progress and thank the CDC for their commitment to addressing invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumococcal pneumonia in adults.”
A news release from the CDC says adults 50 years or older should talk with a healthcare provider to make sure they’re up to date with pneumococcal vaccination.
