US CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination from age 50 to prevent serious complications

Pneumococcal pneumonia can lead to respiratory failure (Illustration: Shutterstock).

The world's rising burden of disease

Each year, pneumococcal bacteria kill 1.6 million people worldwide, according to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO). Of these, 600,000 to 800,000 are adults who die from pneumococcal diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. They are also at higher risk of hospitalization than younger people. The US CDC points out that people aged 50-64 are six times more likely to be hospitalized than people aged 18-49.

The elderly and people with chronic diseases such as COPD, asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney failure, etc. are at high risk of contracting pneumococcal disease and are prone to serious complications. Nearly 90% of people aged 50-64 who are hospitalized for pneumococcal pneumonia or invasive pneumococcal disease (such as sepsis, meningitis, etc.) have these chronic diseases. When infected with pneumococcus, this group of patients often have a rapidly progressing condition, are prone to serious complications, and have a higher mortality rate.

Not only the elderly but also adults aged 18 and over with chronic diseases are 4 to 6 times more likely to get pneumonia than healthy people of the same age.

Pneumococcus is also a common agent found in co-infections and superinfections in many patients with Covid-19, COPD, influenza, etc. A study shows that when a person is simultaneously infected with both bacteria (such as pneumococcus) and viruses (such as influenza virus) in the respiratory tract, these two agents combined will make the disease more severe.

Vietnam is one of the countries with a very fast aging population, at the same time the population groups with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney failure are getting younger. This causes the group of people at risk of pneumococcal disease to increase sharply, posing a great challenge for the health system in controlling this public health problem.

Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pneumococcus: Still many "bumps"

Pneumococcal pneumonia often has a sudden onset, with symptoms that can be easily confused with those of the flu or Covid-19, such as fever, cough, and chest pain, making early diagnosis difficult, especially when most patients are treated as outpatients. Even after hospitalization, determining the exact cause of infection in adults remains challenging.

The average treatment cost for each pneumonia patient is about 17.8 million VND (795.2 USD) and the average hospital stay is 7-11 days.

Even when accurately diagnosed, treatment is increasingly difficult due to antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal strains, leading to increased costs and duration of treatment as well as mortality from invasive pneumococcal infections, especially in the elderly, which can reach an alarming 40%.

This shows that proactive prevention is the key to protecting health against this silent "killer".

CDC lowers vaccination age to 50 - a step forward in promoting the role of vaccination

In response to the growing burden of disease among middle-aged adults, the U.S. CDC has lowered the recommended age for pneumococcal vaccination for healthy adults to 50 years of age (from 65 years). This underscores the burden of pneumococcal disease and the importance of earlier health protection.

Pneumococcal vaccination rates among adults in Asia-Pacific, including Vietnam, remain low. Vaccination brings significant benefits to health systems by reducing the need for treatment, saving on medical costs, and limiting antibiotic resistance. Overall, vaccination reduces the economic burden on both families and society. Global studies have shown that pneumococcal vaccines have the potential to prevent tens of millions of cases and save billions of dollars in medical costs each year.

For each individual, especially those over 50, this is the right time to proactively seek information and see a doctor for advice on preventive measures. For health workers, staying up to date on prevention recommendations and advanced vaccine technology is necessary to firmly step on the journey to protect public health in the long term, and is also a way to contribute to reducing the medical burden.

The health information contained in this document is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a healthcare professional. All decisions regarding patient care should be made by a healthcare professional based on consideration of the individual patient's circumstances and based on the assessment and treatment recommendations of the healthcare professional. Please consult your physician.

This content is provided by Pfizer Vietnam.

PP-PRV-VNM-1403

The article references information from scientific sources, see more here.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/cdc-my-khuyen-cao-tiem-ngua-phe-cau-tu-50-tuoi-de-phong-bien-chung-nang-20250519181925839.htm