The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has voted 14-to-1 to recommend pneumococcal vaccines from Pfizer and Merck for all adults aged 50 and older. This expands previous guidance, which included adults 65 and over and certain children. The decision is seen as favorable for Pfizer’s Prevnar, but it faces competition from Merck’s new vaccine, Capvaxive.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has approved the use of pneumococcal vaccines by Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co. for all adults aged 50 and over.
This decision was made with a 14-to-1 vote and is backed by CDC Director Mandy Cohen.
Previously, the CDC recommended these vaccines for adults aged 65 and older and children under 5, as well as certain immunocompromised individuals.
The change could provide a revenue boost for Pfizer, whose Prevnar vaccine has been a top seller, generating $6 billion in annual sales.
However, Pfizer faces competition from Merck's newly approved Capvaxive vaccine, which covers a wider range of bacterial strains than Prevnar.