New Conjugate Pneumococcal Vaccines to Be a Boon for Adults and Pediatric Patients at Increased Risk of Pneumococcal Disease

 Conjugate pneumococcal vaccines are used to prevent disease caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is responsible for about 25% of all hospital admissions in the United States each year. This type of vaccine is given to children between the ages of six weeks and one year and is also administered to those who have pre-existing health conditions or are at higher risk of developing them. Pneumococcal conjugates can be administered to infants or adults between the ages of four and nine years, although this is not usually recommended.Pneumococci are a group of bacteria that can cause pneumonia if they get into the bloodstream. These bacteria are known as group A, since they are very effective against other types of bacteria. When these bacteria enter the bloodstream through the lungs, they multiply rapidly, causing inflammation and swelling. In the meantime, they can also cause serious complications, such as infection of the heart, brain, nervous system, lungs, and other organs. Pneumococcus has a wide host of ways to spread from person to person, including through contact with an infected object, saliva, or mucus.Most types of conjugate pneumococcal vaccines help protect individuals against the illness caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. However, these vaccines also cover the need to prevent secondary infections that may occur after a person has already contracted the disease. For example, Pneumovax, which was made to prevent the development of invasive pneumococci, protects against infection that occurs due to Streptococcus. The group B streptococcus vaccine, or Gardasil, is made to help protect against the development of invasive bacteria that causes pneumonia, especially in pregnant women. It also prevents the development of secondary bacterial infections and has no effect on pregnant women, who should instead use other forms of protection.Several companies are focused on developing vaccines for people 50 years of age or older and people two years and younger who are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease. In October 2020, Merck reported results from two more Phase III trials of V114, it’s 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. The two trials are PNEU-PATH and PNEU-DAY. PNEU-PATH evaluated V114 after administration of PNEUMOVAX 23 on year later in healthy adults 50 years of age or older.