CDC Lowers Age Requirement for Pneumococcal Vaccine to 50

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a significant change in its pneumococcal vaccination guidelines, lowering the recommended age from 65 to 50 years old.

CDC Director Mandy Cohen endorsed the recommendation on October 23, 2024, following the advice of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The decision aims to protect more adults from serious illnesses including pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections.

The timing of this update is particularly relevant as the nation faces an increase in respiratory infections. The CDC reports a surge in pneumonia-causing bacteria diagnoses over the past six months, reaching its peak in August.

“Lowering the age for pneumococcal vaccination gives more adults the opportunity to protect themselves from pneumococcal disease at the age when risk of infection substantially increases,” the CDC stated in its official release.

The recommendation is supported by data showing that nearly 9 in 10 people ages 50 to 64 hospitalized with pneumococcal pneumonia had at least one high-risk condition. These conditions include heart disease, lung disease, liver disease, diabetes, smoking, alcoholism, and certain types of cancer.

The vaccine’s protection is expected to last between 10 and 20 years. The CDC suggests that now is an optimal time for eligible individuals to get vaccinated in preparation for the winter respiratory season.

Citations:
[1] https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/news/20241024/cdc-recommends-people-ages-50-64-get-pneumococcal-vaccines
[2] https://www.npr.org/2024/10/24/nx-s1-5163216/pneumonia-vaccine-recommendation-50-cdc
[3] https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/cdc-lowers-age-adult-pneumonia-vaccine
[4] https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s1023-pneumococcal-vaccination.html
[5] https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/vaccines/adults.html
[6] https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/hcp/vaccine-recommendations/index.html
[7] https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/vaccines/index.html
[8] https://www2a.cdc.gov/vaccines/m/pneumo/pneumo.html