From the Guidelines
The pneumonia vaccine is a crucial preventive measure that helps protect against pneumonia-causing bacteria, particularly Streptococcus pneumoniae, and the most recent guidelines recommend that adults aged ≥65 years receive one dose of PCV15 or PCV20, followed by PPSV23 at least 1 year later, if their vaccine status is unknown or they have not received pneumococcal vaccine 1.
Overview of Pneumonia Vaccine
The pneumonia vaccine is an essential preventive measure that helps protect against pneumonia-causing bacteria, particularly Streptococcus pneumoniae. There are two main types of pneumonia vaccines available: Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13 or Prevnar 13) and Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23 or Pneumovax 23).
Recommendations for Adults
For adults 65 and older, the CDC recommends receiving PCV15 or PCV20, followed by PPSV23 at least 1 year later, if their vaccine status is unknown or they have not received pneumococcal vaccine 1. Younger adults with certain medical conditions like chronic heart or lung disease, diabetes, or compromised immune systems should also be vaccinated.
Vaccine Administration
The vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies against pneumococcal bacteria, preventing serious infections including pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections. Side effects are generally mild and may include soreness at the injection site, mild fever, or muscle aches.
Importance of Vaccination
These vaccines are particularly important because pneumococcal pneumonia can be life-threatening, especially for older adults and those with weakened immune systems, and vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe disease and hospitalization 1.
Key Points
- Adults aged ≥65 years should receive one dose of PCV15 or PCV20, followed by PPSV23 at least 1 year later, if their vaccine status is unknown or they have not received pneumococcal vaccine 1
- Younger adults with certain medical conditions should also be vaccinated
- Vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe disease and hospitalization 1
From the Research
Overview of Pneumonia Vaccine
- The pneumonia vaccine is designed to prevent pneumococcal disease, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis 2, 3, 4, 5.
- There are two main types of pneumonia vaccines: polysaccharide vaccines and conjugate vaccines 3, 4.
- Conjugate vaccines, such as PCV13, have been shown to be effective in preventing vaccine-type pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal disease in adults 65 years of age or older 2, 5.
Efficacy of Pneumonia Vaccine
- A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that PCV13 was effective in preventing vaccine-type pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia, nonbacteremic and noninvasive pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia, and invasive pneumococcal disease in adults 65 years of age or older 2.
- The vaccine efficacy was 45.6% for community-acquired pneumonia, 45.0% for nonbacteremic and noninvasive community-acquired pneumonia, and 75.0% for invasive pneumococcal disease 2.
- Another study published in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics found that pneumococcal conjugate vaccines were immunogenic in older adults and elicited improved antibacterial immune responses and immunological memory compared to polysaccharide vaccines 4.
Types of Pneumonia Vaccines
- Polysaccharide vaccines, such as PPV23, have been available for over 30 years and have a clinical effectiveness of 43-81% 3.
- Conjugate vaccines, such as PCV13, have been shown to be more effective than polysaccharide vaccines in preventing vaccine-type pneumococcal disease 2, 4, 5.
- Novel polysaccharide-protein conjugates have been developed and have shown promising results in animal studies, with potential for use in human vaccine development 6.