The FDA recently approved Vaxneuvance, Merck’s 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Vaxneuvance protects against strains of pneumonia and other acute respiratory diseases. The announcement comes one month after a similar vaccine, Pfizer’s Prevnar 20 received FDA approval (https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/us-fda-approves-prevnar-20tm-pfizers-pneumococcal-20-valent). Both vaccines are approved for adults aged 18 years and older.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is expected to meet in October to update its recommendations on appropriate use of the Merck and Pfizer vaccines and if to incorporate them into the vaccine schedule.