Pneumococcal vaccines help protect against pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal disease refers to illnesses caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, such as pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections. This bacterium can cause mild illnesses like ear infections but can sometimes lead to very serious invasive diseases. Pneumococcal disease is especially dangerous for infants, young children, older adults, and people with certain medical conditions. There are two main pneumococcal vaccines currently available in the United States - Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23.

Prevnar 13

Prevnar 13 is a conjugate vaccine recommended for all children under 2 years old. It protects against 13 types of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Prevnar 13 was designed to directly impact the most common strains causing invasive disease globally. Children are vaccinated based on the recommended schedule of 4 doses by 15 months of age with additional booster doses. Prevnar 13 helps prevent ear infections, as well as invasive pneumococcal diseases like bacteremia and meningitis. It provides strong and long-lasting protection through antibody responses and immunological memory.

Pneumovax 23

Pneumovax 23 is a polysaccharide vaccine recommended for certain high-risk groups age 2 years and older. It protects against 23 types of Streptococcus pneumoniae. For adults 65 years and older, Pneumovax 23 is recommended once if previously unvaccinated regardless of medical conditions. For those ages 2 through 64 years with certain chronic health conditions, Pneumovax 23 is recommended based on risk and may require booster doses depending on age and medical history. This vaccine targets the capsular polysaccharide of pneumococcal bacteria. While immunity persists for at least 5 years for most adults, responses to polysaccharide vaccines diminish more quickly compared to conjugate vaccines.

Understanding Differences Between Vaccines

There are important differences between Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23. Prevnar 13 contains conjugated capsular polysaccharides linked to a nontoxic variant of diphtheria toxin, which enhances immune response in young children. Pneumovax 23 contains free polysaccharides that do not effectively stimulate robust protective immune responses in children under 2 years. Prevnar 13 protects against more serotypes of Pneumococcal Vaccines disease and produces stronger and longer-lasting immunity, making it ideal for routine childhood immunization. Pneumovax 23 targets additional serotypes, making it preferable for certain at-risk groups needing broader coverage against invasive disease. Both vaccines have demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials and post-licensure effectiveness studies.

Vaccine Schedules and Recommendations

The recommended schedules and groups for pneumococcal vaccination are quite complex due to differences in the vaccines. In general:

- Prevnar 13 is routinely recommended for all children under 2 years in 4 doses by 15 months of age with a booster at 12-15 months.

- Pneumovax 23 is recommended once for adults 65 years and older if previously unvaccinated and for certain high-risk groups ages 2-64 based on medical conditions.

- Some groups may receive sequential doses of Prevnar 13 followed by Pneumovax 23 based on age cutoffs and risk factors like immunosuppression or functional asplenia.

- Booster doses of Pneumovax 23 are recommended every 5 years for certain high-risk groups or following splenectomy.

Precise schedules and recommendations vary by country and may change based on emerging disease epidemiology and vaccine effectiveness findings over time. Consultation with a healthcare provider is important for accurately determining pneumococcal vaccine needs according to individual risk factors.

Get more insights on Pneumococcal Vaccines

Explore More Article Biohacking Market

Unlock More Insights—Explore the Report in the Language You Prefer:

• French

• German

• Italian

• Russian

• Japanese

• Chinese

• Korean

• Portuguese