The agency’s previous recommendation said adults over 65 and children under 5 should get vaccinated.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended expanding the use of vaccines to adults ages 50 to 64 to protect against pneumococcal disease, a contagious and potentially serious illness caused by bacteria.
Under the agency’s previous recommendation on vaccination, adults over 65 and children under 5, as well as children and adults with certain conditions, should be vaccinated. Doctors say children under five and adults over 65 are at higher risk of contracting pneumococcal disease, which affects many different systems in the body and causes conditions with mild symptoms such as sinusitis, pneumonia, blood infection or bacterial meningitis, and which can be life-threatening.
The disease is transmitted through contact with secretions such as saliva or mucus.
Lowering the age group 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 adult vaccination age, it would give more people the opportunity to protect themselves against the disease at ages when the risk of infection increases substantially. .
Currently, pneumococcal vaccines from Merck and Pfizer are available on the US market.
“The recommendation is an important step forward in efforts to improve equitable access to pneumococcal conjugate vaccines and may improve vaccination rates,” Merck said in a statement. Merck offers three approved pneumococcal vaccines, including Vaxneuvance for people six weeks or older and Pneumovax 23 for adults over 50 years of age and children over two years of age.
Earlier this year, the US health regulator approved capvaxivoMerck’s next-generation vaccine that helps produce an immune response against 21 serotypes of the bacteria, for adults 18 years of age and older. Pfizer’s Prevnar 20, which protects against 20 serotypes, is approved for people six weeks of age and older.
What conditions does pneumococcal disease cause?
According to experts, pneumococcus causes many infections that are found practically anywhere in the body. More serious and life-threatening illnesses have different symptoms but involve the same bacteria, require urgent medical treatment, and include:
- blood infection
- Infection of the membrane of the brain and spinal cord or bacterial meningitis
- Lung infection or pneumonia
- Bone infection or osteomyelitis
- joint infection
- Generalized inflammation of tissues and organs.
Pneumococcal meningitis and bacteremia cause serious disabilities, such as brain damage, hearing loss, or surgical removal of a limb, also known as amputation.
Less serious illnesses that pneumococcus can cause include:
- Bronchitis
- middle ear infection
- Conjunctivitis
- Breast
Signs and symptoms of pneumococcal disease.
Doctors say the symptoms of pneumococcal disease vary depending on the location and severity of the infection. Some common infections include:
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fever and chills
- Lack of appetite, lack of drink or vomiting in babies.
- Light sensitivity
- fast heart rate
- Perspiration
- Death if not treated quickly
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