The FDA approved the use of Merck’s pneumococcal 15-valent conjugate vaccine (Vaxneuvance) to include children 6 weeks through 17 years of age. The vaccine is now indicated for active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F, and 33F in individuals 6 weeks of age and older.
Vaxneuvance is for intramuscular injection only. It is administered as a four-dose series at 2, 4, 6, and 12 through 15 months of age. It is administered as a single dose in children and adolescents 2 through 17 years of age who have received an incomplete series of another pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
The vaccine is contraindicated in individuals with a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine or to diphtheria toxoid. The most commonly reported adverse reactions in children vaccinated with a four-dose series at 2, 4, 6, and 12 through 15 months of age were irritability, somnolence, injection-site pain, fever, decreased appetite, injection-site induration, injection-site erythema, and injection-site swelling.
For full prescribing information, consult product labeling.