On June 22, 2023, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended use of 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20 [Prevnar 20, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc.]) as an option to 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15 [Vaxneuvance, Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC]) for: routine vaccination of all children aged 2–23 months; catch-up vaccination for healthy children aged 24–59 months who have not received age-appropriate doses; and children aged 24–71 months with certain underlying medical conditions at increased risk for pneumococcal disease* who have not received age-appropriate doses. In addition, recommendations were updated for children aged 2–18 years with any risk conditions. A systematic review and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was employed to guide ACIP’s deliberations regarding use of this vaccine.

Underlying medical conditions include:

cerebrospinal fluid leak; chronic heart disease; chronic kidney disease (excluding maintenance dialysis and nephrotic syndrome, which are included in immunocompromising conditions); chronic liver disease; chronic lung disease (including moderate persistent or severe persistent asthma); cochlear implant; diabetes mellitus; immunocompromising conditions (on maintenance dialysis or with nephrotic syndrome; congenital or acquired asplenia or splenic dysfunction; congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies; diseases and conditions treated with immunosuppressive drugs or radiation therapy, including malignant neoplasms, leukemias, lymphomas, Hodgkin disease, and solid organ transplant; HIV infection; and sickle cell disease or other hemoglobinopathies).