Pneumonia prevention

By Vanessa Dinogan, Pharm.D Candidate 2024, and David Kohll, Pharm.D

Pneumonia is an infection caused by streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus. This infection can become invasive, and may even lead to life threatening complications by migrating to different parts of the body, including:

• Pneumonia (lung infection)

• Bacteremia (blood infection)

• Meningitis (brain infection)

• Otitis media (ear infection)

• Sinusitis (sinus infection)

The CDC reports, “Pneumococcal pneumonia causes an estimated 150,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States. Pneumococcal meningitis and bacteremia killed approximately 3,250 people in the United States in 2019.”

Young children, older adults, and certain medical conditions increase the risk for pneumonia. Pneumonia vaccinations can help protect you against serious infections that are commonly caused by certain pneumococcal bacteria.

WHAT VACCINATIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines:

• Prevnar 13 (PCV13): helps protect against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria

• Vaxneuvance (PCV15): helps protect against 15 types of pneumococcal bacteria

• Prevnar 20 (PCV20): helps protect against 20 types of pneumococcal bacteria

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine:

• Pneumovax 23 (PPSV23): helps protect 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria

WHAT MAKES PREVNAR 20 SPECIAL?

Unlike the other pneumonia vaccines, Prevnar 20 takes away the burden of receiving multiple vaccinations. Prevnar 20 only requires one shot, while the others may require more.

WHAT VACCINATION(S) SHOULD YOU RECEIVE?

Depending on your age, vaccination history, and medical conditions (e.g., chronic heart disease, diabetes mellitus) the CDC recommends which pneumonia vaccine(s) you should receive.

Adults aged 65 and over, who have not received a pneumonia vaccine or has an unknown vaccine history, should receive 1 dose of Prevnar 20 (or Vaxneuvance followed by Pneumovax 23, at least 1 year later).

For adults 65 and older, who have received both Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23 before turning 65, should receive 1 dose of Prevnar 20 (or Pneumovax 23) if it has been at least 5 years since the last vaccine.

Adults aged 19-64 with:

Pneumonia vaccinations may also be indicated for adults ages 19-64 with certain health conditions or risk factors, listed below:

• Specified immunocompromising conditions o Chronic renal failure, congenital or acquired asplenia, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, generalized malignancy, HIV infection, Hodgkin disease, iatrogenic immunosuppression, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, nephrotic syndrome, sickle cell disease or other hemoglobinopathies, solid organ transplant.

• The following chronic health conditions o Alcoholism, chronic lung disease (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, and asthma), chronic heart disease (including congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathies), cigarette smoking, chronic liver disease, and diabetes mellitus.

• A cochlear implant or cerebrospinal fluid leak (refer to CDC website recommendations).

Children:

Younger than 2 years old:

• Prevnar 13 or PCV15 as a series of 4 doses: o Give 1 dose at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 through 15 months

Different recommendations exist for children ages 2-18 with certain medical conditions.

(David Kohll of Kohll’s RX)