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Posts Tagged ‘Pneumococcal Vaccines’

Updated Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations. By Our Student Pharmacist, Kendra Terry.

Although most discussion surrounding vaccines lately has been about COVID-19 vaccines, we can’t forget about the importance of some of the other vaccines we have available. Vaccines that protect us from pneumococcal disease are also very important, and the recommendations for these have recently changed.

Pneumococcal vaccines protect us from infections with pneumococcal bacteria. More specifically, the vaccines prevent infection by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, or S. pneumoniae. These types of infections most commonly present as pneumonia, but can also cause bacteremia (infection of the blood) and/or meningitis (infection of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord).

Pneumonia is the most common presentation of pneumococcal disease among adults. Symptoms usually develop after 1-3 days of infection, often starting as fever and chills. Other common symptoms can include chest pain, productive cough, shortness of breath, tiredness, and weakness. Some people may experience nausea and vomiting, but this is less common. Thanks to antibiotics, most people are able to recover from pneumonia, but older adults and people with certain medical conditions are at a higher risk of developing serious complications, including death.

The best way to protect yourself from infection and serious complications is to get vaccinated against pneumococcal disease. Who should get vaccinated, and which vaccine they should get, can be a confusing picture, especially since these recommendations have recently changed.

Please refer to the image below to answer the first of these questions: WHO should get a pneumococcal vaccine?

PNA vaccine- who should get vaccinated

The next question you may have is: WHICH pneumococcal vaccine should I get?

The answer to this question may be a little more confusing, as two new pneumococcal vaccines have become available in the last year. To make this more clear, I’ve done my best to summarize the answer for you!

There are currently four different vaccines available in the US.  Three of these are “conjugate” vaccines, and one is a “polysaccharide” vaccine. The easiest way to explain the difference between these is to say that the conjugate vaccines protect you from disease longer than polysaccharide vaccines.
Conjugate vaccines:

PCV13 (Prevnar 13): Prevents infection from 13 serotypes of S. pneumoniae

PCV15 (Vaxneuvance®) **NEW**: Prevents infection from 15 serotypes of S. pneumoniae

PCV20 (Prevnar 20) **NEW**: Prevents infection from 20 serotypes of S. pneumoniae

Polysaccharide Vaccine:

PPSV23 (Pneumovax23®): Prevents infection from 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria

Previously, the only vaccines available were Prevnar13 and Pneumovax23. Now that Prevnar20 and Vaxneuvance are available, both are recommended over Prevnar13 for patients who have never received a pneumococcal vaccine. The recommended schedule for those with no history of pneumococcal vaccination is shown in the figure below:

PNA vaccine schedule- previously unvaccinated

Some of you might be wondering: What if I’ve already received a pneumonia vaccine?

The algorithm below should answer this question for you:

PNA vaccine algorithm

The timing/schedule for when to get Pneumovax23 can be even more confusing, and can vary among different groups of people, such as those who have an immunocompromising condition. You should speak with your doctor or pharmacist to determine when you are eligible for each of the vaccines.

In summary, getting vaccinated against pneumococcal disease is an important step we can take to keep ourselves healthy.

I hope I was able to clear up some questions you might have had about the new vaccinations that have become available. If you are ever unsure of which vaccine you should get, your pharmacist is a great resource to help answer any questions you may have!

References:

1.) Gierke R, Wodi AP, Kobayashi M. Pneumococcal disease. The Pink Book. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html. Published August 18, 2021.

2.) About pneumococcal vaccines: For providers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/hcp/about-vaccine.html. Published January 24, 2022.

3.) Pneumococcal vaccination: Who and when to vaccinate. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/hcp/who-when-to-vaccinate.html. Published January 24, 2022.

4.) Clinical Resource, Pneumococcal Vaccination in Adults. Pharmacist’s Letter/Prescriber’s Letter. March 2022. [380301]