Campaign Aims to Raise Awareness About Updated CDC Recommendations for Pneumococcal Pneumonia

A new campaign from the American Lung Association, in partnership with Pfizer, is aiming to raise public awareness about updated pneumococcal vaccine recommendations from the CDC.¹ As part of the campaign, the American Lung Association is providing information and resources for patients to learn about pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination, as well as for providers to learn about how best to serve their patients.²

Patients can also take a risk assessment quiz to evaluate their personal risk for pneumococcal pneumonia and download a fact sheet to understand symptoms and prevention tips.²

Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine Recommendations

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In October 2024, CDC officials updated their recommendations regarding pneumococcal vaccination, now urging children younger than 5 years and adults 50 years or older to get vaccinated. The CDC also recommends vaccination for children and adults at increased risk of pneumococcal disease.³

Specifically, children younger than 5 years old should receive a 4-dose pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) series of PCV15 or PCV20, with doses administered at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 through 15 months of age. Adults aged 50 years or older should receive PCV15, PCV20, or PCV21 if they have never received any PCV or their previous vaccination history is unknown. If PCV15 is used, a dose of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) should be administered 1 year later, if needed.³

Importantly, the CDC recommends shared decision-making for adults 65 years or older, who have the option to receive PCV20 or PCV21 or to not receive additional pneumococcal vaccines. This patient population can receive PCV20 or PCV21 if they have received PCV13 at any age and PPSV23 at or after the age of 65.³

Adults aged 19 through 49 with certain underlying medical conditions may also be eligible for pneumococcal vaccination, particularly if they have risk factors such as chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease, or diabetes, or if they smoke cigarettes.³

Pneumococcal pneumonia can be potentially serious, with symptoms developing quickly and including fever, chills, cough, difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, and chest pain. Adults with chronic health conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, diabetes, or chronic heart disease have an increased risk of developing pneumococcal pneumonia. Additionally, adults aged 50 and older are 6.4 times more likely to develop pneumococcal pneumonia than adults aged 18 to 49, hence the CDC recommendations.¹

Pharmacists’ Role

According to CDC data, pneumococcal pneumonia causes an estimated 150,000 hospitalizations annually in the US. Although the risks of pneumococcal pneumonia are well understood and vaccine recommendations for this condition have existed since the first pneumococcal vaccine was licensed in 1977, vaccination rates still remain suboptimal. Among adults aged 65 and older, data show that 70.1% were vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia in 2021, and 29.7% of adults aged 18 to 64 were vaccinated in the same year.⁴

By leveraging their medication expertise and patients’ trust, pharmacists can effectively screen for contraindications and recommend appropriate pneumococcal vaccine(s) based on current guidelines and individual risk factors. Additionally, pharmacists are instrumental in educating patients about the benefits of vaccination, addressing concerns regarding safety and efficacy, and ultimately fostering informed decision-making to improve vaccination rates within the community.

Beyond direct vaccine administration, pharmacists actively encourage vaccination through consistent patient counseling and community outreach initiatives. Integrating pneumococcal vaccination status checks into routine medication reviews and offering opportunistic vaccination during prescription pickups are key strategies. Pharmacists can also collaborate with physicians and other health care providers to ensure a coordinated approach to vaccination efforts. By actively promoting adherence to recommended immunization schedules and staying aware of evolving clinical guidance, pharmacists serve as crucial advocates in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with pneumococcal disease.

REFERENCES

1. Updated CDC Recommendations Aim to Help Protect Millions of People 50 and Older and Adults at High Risk from Potentially Serious Lung Infection. News release. American Lung Association. April 30, 2025. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://www.lung.org/media/press-releases/updated-cdc-recommendations-aim-to-help-protect-mi

2. Get the Facts About Pneumococcal Pneumonia. American Lung Association. Updated February 27, 2025. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/pneumococcal

3. Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations. CDC. October 26, 2024. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/hcp/vaccine-recommendations/index.html#%3A%7E%3Atext%3DCDC%20recommends%20pneumococcal%20vaccination%20for%2Cincreased%20risk%20for%20pneumococcal%20disease

4. Pneumococcal Pneumonia for Healthcare Providers. American Lung Association. Updated February 25, 2025. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/pneumococcal/hcp