Families managing a child's chronic medical condition now have a new tool to reduce one specific, serious risk: invasive pneumococcal disease, including pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections.
On June 18, 2026, the FDA approved an expanded indication for Merck's Capvaxive (Pneumococcal 21-valent Conjugate Vaccine) to include children and adolescents aged 2 through 17 who have completed a primary pediatric pneumococcal vaccination series and have one or more chronic medical conditions that increase their risk for pneumococcal disease.
