At what age is the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV20) recommended on the vaccine schedule?

From the Guidelines

The PCV20 (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine 20-valent) is recommended for administration to adults aged 65 years and older, as well as to individuals aged 19-64 years with certain underlying medical conditions, in a single dose 1.

Key Points

• The vaccine is recommended for adults with certain underlying medical conditions, such as immunocompromising conditions, chronic heart disease, and chronic lung disease 1.
• PCV20 may be administered to individuals who have previously received a dose of PCV13 (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine 13-valent) or PPSV23 (Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine 23-valent), with a minimum interval of 1 year since the last pneumococcal vaccine dose 1.
• The vaccine is typically administered intramuscularly, with no booster doses currently recommended 1.

Underlying Medical Conditions

Some of the underlying medical conditions that may require PCV20 vaccination include:

• Immunocompromising conditions, such as HIV infection, leukemia, and lymphoma 1
• Chronic heart disease, including congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathies 1
• Chronic lung disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, and asthma 1
• Chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, and sickle cell disease or other hemoglobinopathies 1
• Solid organ transplant 1

From the Research

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV20) Recommendation

The Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV20) is recommended for adults aged ≥50 years, as stated in the study 2.

• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends a single dose of PCV for all PCV-naïve adults aged ≥50 years.
• Previous recommendations included use of PCV20 for adults aged ≥65 years, as well as for those aged 19-64 years with risk conditions for pneumococcal disease who have not received a PCV or whose vaccination history is unknown 3.
• The age recommendation for PCV20 has been expanded to include adults aged 50-64 years, in addition to those aged ≥65 years 2.

Study Findings

Studies have evaluated the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of PCV20 in adults of various age groups, including:

• Adults aged ≥65 years, with prior pneumococcal vaccination 4
• Adults aged 60-64 years, without prior pneumococcal vaccination 5
• Adults aged ≥18 years, in a pivotal phase 3 randomized clinical trial 6 These studies have shown that PCV20 is well tolerated and immunogenic in adults, with robust immune responses to all 20 vaccine serotypes.

Vaccine Schedule

The recommended vaccine schedule for PCV20 is:

• A single dose for all PCV-naïve adults aged ≥50 years 2
• Either PCV20 alone or PCV15 in series with PPSV23 for all adults aged ≥65 years, and for adults aged 19-64 years with certain underlying medical conditions or other risk factors 3