Top 5 Takeaways

1. ACIP Recommendations: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) now recommends the use of the 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15) for persons under 19 years, aligning with the existing PCV13 dosing and schedules.
2. Expanded PCV15 Approval: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the use of PCV15 to include individuals aged 6 weeks to 17 years, based on studies comparing antibody responses to PCV13.
3. Immunogenicity and Safety of PCV15: Research indicates that PCV15 is comparable to PCV13 in terms of safety and immunogenicity, with PCV15 providing additional protection against serotypes 22F and 33F.
4. Public Health Impact: The introduction of PCV15 is expected to further reduce the incidence of pneumococcal disease in children and adolescents.
5. Cost-Effectiveness: Economic models suggest that using PCV15 in routine vaccination of children under 2 years is cost-saving compared to PCV13.

Original Article Author and Citation

Corresponding Author

Miwako Kobayashi, mkobayashi@cdc.gov .

Suggested Citation

Kobayashi M, Farrar JL, Gierke R, et al. Use of 15-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Among U.S. Children: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:1174–1181. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7137a3 .

Summary

The ACIP now endorses the use of PCV15 for children and adolescents under 19 years. This recommendation follows the FDA’s expanded approval of PCV15, which has shown comparable immunogenicity and safety to the previously used PCV13. The decision by ACIP was influenced by evidence suggesting that PCV15 could potentially reduce pneumococcal disease incidence due to its additional serotypes.

Methods

The ACIP used the Evidence to Recommendation (EtR) Framework and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) method for evaluating PCV15. This involved a systematic review of literature, evaluating the quality of evidence for PCV15’s immunogenicity and safety.

Discussion

The discussion highlighted the historical context of pneumococcal vaccines, the incidence of pneumococcal diseases in U.S. children, and the comparative analysis of PCV13 and PCV15. The benefits of PCV15, particularly in reducing additional serotypes causing pneumococcal diseases, were emphasized.

Conclusion

The introduction of PCV15 for pediatric use marks a significant step in pneumococcal disease prevention. The vaccine’s comparable safety and immunogenicity to PCV13, along with its cost-saving potential, support its implementation in routine vaccination schedules for U.S. children. Public health practice is expected to benefit from this updated recommendation.

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