Merck Issues Statement Related to Role of PNEUMOVAX 23 in Updated ACIP Recommendations

Merck

, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today provided the following statement regarding the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP's) updated pneumococcal vaccine recommendations for adults 65 years of age and older. These recommendations call for a two vaccine regimen utilizing a dose of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine followed by a dose of Merck's PNEUMOVAX^® 23, at an interval to be determined by the ACIP, in adults 65 years of age and older who have not previously received pneumococcal vaccine. ACIP also voted that these recommendations for routine use of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in adults 65 years of age and older should be reevaluated in 2018 and revised as needed. ACIP will continue to monitor disease trends and the impact of these new recommendations. “We are pleased PNEUMOVAX 23 will continue to play an integral role in helping to prevent pneumococcal disease in adults who are at increased risk,” said Mark Feinberg, MD, PhD, FACP, Chief Public Health and Science Officer for Merck Vaccines. “Pneumococcal disease is still a significant burden and millions of adults remain at risk because of low vaccination rates. It is also important for health care providers to fully implement the long-standing ACIP recommendation for use of only PNEUMOVAX 23 in adults 19 to 64 years of age with certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes and chronic heart disease, who are also at increased risk of pneumococcal disease.” PNEUMOVAX 23 is a vaccine indicated for active immunization for the prevention of pneumococcal disease caused by the 23 serotypes contained in the vaccine (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 8, 9N, 9V, 10A, 11A, 12F, 14, 15B, 17F, 18C, 19F, 19A, 20, 22F, 23F and 33F). PNEUMOVAX 23 (pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent) is approved for use in persons 50 years of age or older and persons aged two years and older who are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease. PNEUMOVAX 23 will not prevent disease caused by capsular types of pneumococcus other than those contained in the vaccine. Do not administer PNEUMOVAX 23 to individuals with a history of hypersensitivity reaction to any component of the vaccine.