Skip to main content

CDC Lowers Age for First Pneumococcal Vaccine to 50

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Oct 24, 2024.

By Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Oct. 24, 2024 -- The recommended first age at which Americans should get the pneumococcal vaccine has been lowered from 65 to 50, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.

"Lowering the age for pneumococcal vaccination gives more adults the opportunity to protect themselves from pneumococcal disease at the age when risk of infection substantially increases," CDC director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in an agency statement.

"Pneumococcal bacteria can cause serious illnesses, including pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections, and older adults are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease," she explained.

Earlier yesterday, the CDC advisory panel had previously voted 14 to 1 to lower the vaccination age, and Cohen approved the move soon after.

Prior recommendations had advised the pneumococcal shot for two vulnerable age groups: children under the age of 5 and seniors age 65 and older. People of other ages with certain health conditions are also advised to get the shot.

Pneumococcal disease is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and related forms of pneumococci bacteria.

"Over 150,000 hospitalizations from pneumococcal pneumonia are estimated to occur annually in the United States and it has been demonstrated to complicate influenza infection," according to the CDC.

"Pneumococci is the most common bacterial cause of childhood pneumonia, especially in children younger than age 5 years," the agency noted. "In adults, pneumococci account for 10% to 30% of adult community-acquired pneumonia."

The very first pneumococcal vaccine was licensed in the United States in 1977.

According to the Associated Press, there are four types of pneumococcal vaccine available to Americans, including Capvaxive, made by Merck, which can cost around $300 a dose and protects against 21 types of pneumococci, eight more than other vaccines.

The CDC advisory panel noted that pneumococcal illness tends to appear earlier in Black Americans -- between 55 and 59 years of age -- compared to whites. That was part of the experts' reasoning that the age of first vaccination should be lowered, the AP reported.

It's possible that booster shots of the vaccine may be required about 15 years after the first shot.

Sources

  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, statement, Oct. 23, 2024
  • Associated Press

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted October 2024

Read this next

New Models Help Docs Distinguish Severe Pneumonia In Children

MONDAY, May 19, 2025 — New predictive models can accurately distinguish mild, moderate and severe pneumonia in children, helping determine which kids need hospitalization or...

FDA Gives Full OK to Novavax COVID Shot for High-Risk Groups

MONDAY, May 19, 2025 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, but only for certain people. The vaccine...

Study Finds No Link Between COVID Vaccine And Miscarriage Risk

THURSDAY, May 15, 2025 — There’s no link between the COVID-19 vaccine and miscarriage, a new study says. COVID poses significant risks to pregnant women, including...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.