Is there a potential role for protein‐conjugate pneumococcal vaccine in older

Longstanding controversy over the efficacy of 23‐valentpneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) led to arecommendation by the Joint Committee on Vaccinationand Immunisation (JCVI) of the United Kingdom in March2011, to discontinue routine use of PPV23 in older adults.1Following careful review of the evidence and feedbackfrom stakeholders, the JCVI decided to retain the originalpolicy of uniform vaccination of adults >65 years of age,while keeping the subject under continued review. In theUnited States, the Advisory Committee on ImmunizationPractices (ACIP) which is also concerned about the efficacyof PPV23 is currently considering a different strategy, i.e.adding 13‐valent pneumococcal protein‐conjugate vaccine(PCV13) for recommended use in adults, following recentFood and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for thispurpose in adults over 50 years of age. It is thereforetimely to review the options for prevention ofpneumococcal disease in adults.