U.S. health authorities recommended on Wednesday (23) that people aged 50 and older receive a vaccine against bacteria that can cause pneumonia and other dangerous diseases. Previously, the minimum recommended age was 65 years.
The recommendations for pneumococcal vaccines are among the most complicated issued by the government. The CDC currently recommends vaccines for children under 5 years old and adults aged 65 and older, provided they have never been vaccinated against pneumococcal disease. Authorities also recommend vaccines for children and adults at increased risk of pneumococcal disease, such as those with diabetes, chronic liver disease, or weakened immune systems.
There are over 100 known types of pneumococcal bacteria that can cause severe infections in the lungs and other parts of the body. Each year, the U.S. sees about 30,000 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease, which includes bloodstream infections, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, and other illnesses. About 30% of cases occur among people aged 50 to 64.
In 2022, only about 24% of American adults reported having received a pneumococcal vaccine, according to the CDC. Doctors have long observed stark racial disparities in who is hardest hit by pneumococcal disease: Black adults become ill from pneumonia at disproportionately higher rates. The lowered age recommendation may encourage more people to get vaccinated.
If you are unsure whether you have been vaccinated, talk to your doctor.