pneumococcal vaccine (Prevenar 7 / Prevenar / PnC + MPL)

Ensuring Maternal and Infant Protection: A Commentary on Pneumococcal Vaccine Safety in Pregnancy and Lactation.

Levin Lane L, Valencia Sara S, Ault Kevin K

21‑Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine V116 (CAPVAXIVE®): Pediatric First Approval.

Shirley Matt M

The 21‑valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) V116 (CAPVAXIVE®), developed by Merck & Co., has been approved in the USA since June 2024 for active immunization for the prevention of pneumonia and invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in adults, with subsequent approvals in adults in the EU and a range of other countries. With the inclusion of eight S. pneumoniae serotypes that are not included in other currently licensed pneumococcal vaccines, V116 was designed to target residual pneumococcal disease in adults. Noting that some of the unique serotypes in V116 are responsible for significant pneumococcal disease in children and adolescents, the potential value of V116 in also complementing existing pediatric pneumococcal vaccination regimens has been explored. Supported by phase III clinical evaluation in children and adolescents with an increased risk of pneumococcal disease, in March 2026, V116 received its first pediatric approval, in the EU, for active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease and pneumonia caused by S. pneumoniae in children and adolescents 2 to < 18 years of age who previously completed a primary pediatric pneumococcal vaccination regimen. Subsequently, in June 2026, the US approval for V116 was extended to include use in individuals 2-17 years of age who are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of V116 leading to these first pediatric approvals for active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease and pneumonia caused by S. pneumoniae.

Protection and Duration of 23-Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine Against Hospitalization for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Older Adults with Low Vaccination Coverage: A Multicenter Matched Case-Control Study in China.

Yang Tianchi T, Ying Xingqiu X, Wu Xiaoqing X, Shao Junzhe J et al.

Background/Objectives: 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) effectiveness against community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains controversial, with critical gaps in low-coverage settings and beyond 5 years post-vaccination. We estimated real-world PPV23 effectiveness against CAP hospitalization and characterized its duration among elderly adults in a low-coverage region. Methods: A multicenter matched case-control study was conducted across 14 hospitals in Eastern China (2018-2022). Cases were patients aged ≥60 years hospitalized with clinically diagnosed CAP. Up to three controls per case were matched on sex, age (±3 years), admission date (±5 days), hospital, and residential community. Conditional logistic regression estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE), adjusting for chronic comorbidities and healthcare utilization. Results: Among 6645 cases and 15,806 controls, 5-year PPV23 coverage was 2.14% (cases) and 2.76% (controls). PPV23 was associated with a 22.5% reduction in CAP hospitalization (adjusted VE = 22.5%, 95% CI: 4.1% to 37.3%). Protection was concentrated in non-severe CAP (adjusted VE = 25.7%, 95% CI: 7.0% to 40.7%), with no significant effect in severe CAP (adjusted VE = -11.7%, 95% CI: -115.1% to 42.0%). Extending the exposure window to 6 years yielded no significant VE (adjusted VE = 17.3%, 95% CI: -1.8% to 32.8%). Conclusions: PPV23 provides meaningful protection against CAP hospitalization in elderly adults in low-coverage settings, only for non-severe disease. Waning efficacy beyond 5 years supports revaccination at that interval.

Preventive Strategies and Determinants of Vaccination Compliance Among Older Adults in Rural Amazonian Communities.

Pasquel-Muñoz Luciana T LT, Ramírez-Béjar Ana Lucía AL, Chávez Cano Joaquín Eduardo JE, Camacho-Caballero Kiara K et al.

Respiratory infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among older adults. However, vaccination coverage against respiratory pathogens remains suboptimal, particularly in rural and vulnerable populations. This study aimed to identify factors associated with respiratory vaccination uptake among older adults living in rural Amazonian communities in Peru. We conducted an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study using secondary data from the Amazon Frail Project. A total of 429 adults aged ≥60 years from rural and suburban communities in San Martín, Loreto, and Ucayali were included. Vaccination coverage for influenza, pneumococcal disease, pertussis, and COVID-19, as well as vaccine combinations, was assessed. Multiple linear and Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to identify associated factors. Complete vaccination coverage was 42.89% for influenza, 23.08% for pneumococcal disease, 4.43% for pertussis, and 70.16% for COVID-19. Only 3.50% of participants had received all four respiratory vaccines. Higher educational attainment, multimorbidity, social frailty, greater muscle mass, better physical performance, and healthcare center attendance were associated with higher vaccination uptake. Depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, functional dependency, physical frailty, dynapenia, and higher body mass index were associated with lower vaccination uptake. Respiratory vaccination coverage was suboptimal among older adults living in rural Amazonian communities. Educational, functional, physical, social, and healthcare access factors significantly influenced vaccine uptake, highlighting the need for targeted immunization strategies in vulnerable rural populations.