The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended expanding the use of vaccines to adults between 50-64 years of age to protect against pneumococcal disease – a contagious and potentially severe illness caused by bacteria. According to the agency’s earlier recommendation for vaccination – adults over 65 years of age and children younger than 5 years, as well as children and adults with certain conditions were to get the vaccination done. Doctors say children younger than five and adults above 65 are at an increased risk of contracting pneumococcal disease - which affects many different systems in your body, resulting in conditions with mild symptoms like a sinus, pneumonia, blood infection, or bacterial meningitis – and can be life-threatening.
The disease spreads through contact with secretions like saliva or mucus. Lowering the age bracket gives more protection against the disease According to the agency’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices which voted 14 to one in favor of lowering the age for adult vaccination, it would give more people the chance to protect against the disease at ages when the risk of infection increases substantially. Pneumococcal vaccines from Merck and Pfizer are currently available in the US market.
“The recommendation is a significant step forward in efforts to enhance equitable access to pneumococcal conjugate vaccines and may improve vaccination rates,” Merck said in a statement. Merck offers three approved .