Pneumococcal Disease

Although vaccines have reduced the burden of pneumococcal disease, pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae and invasive pneumococcal disease remains prevalent.

Rather than telling a patient they should get a vaccine, the CDC’s shared clinical decision-making recommendations advise patients to speak to providers about certain vaccines and decide on an individual basis if they should receive them. 

The FDA has approved Merck’s 21-valent pneumococcal vaccine, which is specifically made for adults, the company announced.

Despite experts warning of the dangers of influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus and pneumococcal disease this fall and winter, survey data shows that many U.S. adults underestimate the seriousness of these infections.

Higher levels of crystalline silica were found in the lung tissue of contemporary coal miners in the U.S. compared with the lung tissue of previous generations of coal miners, researchers reported in Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

The FDA recently approved Vaxneuvance, Merck’s 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, for adults aged 18 years or older.

The FDA has accepted Merck’s 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for priority review, the company announced.

Pfizer’s 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine induced robust immune responses that were comparable to other vaccines currently on the market, according to results from a phase 3, randomized, double-blind trial.

Merck’s investigational V114 pneumococcal conjugate vaccine — which includes 15 serotypes — is noninferior to the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine currently on the market for adults, the company announced in a press release.

Doctors Without Borders said Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance “should immediately stop giving millions of dollars in financial incentives” to Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, or PCV, and instead give it to another manufacturer for a more affordable vaccine.