What is the new pneumonia vaccine that starts with Conjugate (Kappa)?

From the Guidelines

The new pneumonia vaccine you're likely referring to is PCV21 (CAPVAXIVE), manufactured by Merck Sharp & Dohme, LLC, which was licensed by the Food and Drug Administration in 2024 for use in persons aged ≥18 years. This vaccine protects against 21 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria that can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections. It's administered as a single intramuscular injection for adults 65 and older or adults 19-64 with certain risk factors. The vaccine works by stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies against the capsular polysaccharides of pneumococcal bacteria.

Key Points

• PCV21 does not contain certain serotypes in other licensed vaccines but adds eight new serotypes 1.
• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends receipt of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) by all adults aged ≥65 years as well as those aged 19–64 years with a risk condition who have not received PCV or whose vaccination history is unknown 1.
• Options include either 20-valent PCV (PCV20; Prevnar20; Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) alone or 15-valent PCV (PCV15; VAXNEUVANCE; Merck Sharp & Dohme, LLC) followed by 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23; Pneumovax23, Merck Sharp & Dohme, LLC) 1.
• The report summarizes the evidence considered by ACIP regarding the use of PCV21 for adults, highlighting considerations of immunogenicity, safety, and resource use 1.

Considerations

• Adults aged ≥65 years whose vaccine status is unknown or who have not received pneumococcal vaccine should receive one dose of PCV15 or PCV20 1.
• If PCV15 is used, it should be followed by PPSV23 1.
• The recommended interval between PCV15 and PPSV23 is ≥1 year 1.
• If PPSV23 is the only dose received, PCV15 or PCV20 may be given ≥1 year later 1.

From the Research

Pneumococcal Vaccines

• The new pneumonia vaccine that starts with a C is likely referring to the Conjugate vaccine, specifically the PCV13 (13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) or the newer PCV15 and PCV20 vaccines 2.
• PCV13 has been shown to be effective in preventing pneumococcal disease in adults, particularly those over 65 years of age and those with chronic health conditions 3, 4.
• The PCV15 and PCV20 vaccines are newer conjugate vaccines that provide protection against a wider spectrum of pneumococcal serotypes 2.
• These vaccines have been developed to provide improved immune responses and have been shown to be effective in reducing the burden of pneumococcal disease in various populations 4, 5.

Vaccine Types

• There are two main types of pneumococcal vaccines: pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) 6, 3.
• PPV23 is an unconjugated purified polysaccharide vaccine that provides protection against 23 serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae 3.
• PCV13 is a conjugated vaccine that provides protection against 13 serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae and has been shown to be more immunogenic than PPV23 3, 4.

Vaccine Recommendations

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that adults over 65 years of age and those with chronic health conditions receive the PCV13 vaccine 3.
• The CDC also recommends that immunosuppressed patients of any age receive both the PCV13 and PPV23 vaccines 3.
• National guidelines have been updated to incorporate the new pneumococcal vaccines into clinical practice, including the use of PCV15 and PCV20 vaccines 2.