ACIP: pneumococcal vaccine schedule outlined for high-risk adults

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) outlined recommendations and dosing regimens for the use of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

ACIP issued the recommendation June 20, and it was given a Category A recommendation according to the report published in the Oct. 12 MMWR.

There should be routine use of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13; Prevnar 13, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) for those age 19 years or older with immunocompromising conditions, functional or anatomic asplenia, cerebrospinal fluid leaks or cochlear implants. PCV13 should be administered to eligible adults in addition to the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23; Pneumovax 23, Merck & Co.), which is also recommended for this patient population.

This population should receive a dose of PCV13 first, followed by a dose of PPSV23 at least eight weeks later. Subsequent doses of PPSV23 should follow current PPSV23 recommendations for adults at high risk.

Additionally, those who received PPSV23 before age 65 years for any indication should receive another dose of the vaccine at age 65 years, or later if at least five years have elapsed since their previous PPSV23 dose.

Those who previously received at least one dose of PPSV23 should be given a PCV13 dose a year or later after the previous PPSV23 dose. For those who require additional doses of PPSV23, the first such dose should be given no sooner than eight weeks after PCV13 and at least five years after the most recent dose of PPSV23.

All adults are eligible for a dose of PPSV23 at age 65 years, regardless of previous PPSV23 vaccination; however, a minimum interval of five years between PPSV23 doses should be maintained.