A 31-strain pneumococcal vaccine from Vaxcyte met all of its main immune-response goals in a large Phase 3 trial against the two leading adult shots, Pfizer's Prevnar 20 and Merck's Capvaxive, the company announced Oct. 5. The results are topline data released by the company and have not been peer-reviewed.
For adults 50 and older and the families who help manage their care, the news does not change anything today. Current vaccines remain the recommended choice. But the vaccine, called VAX-31, is designed to cover more of the bacterial strains that still cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and meningitis in older Americans.
