France Recommends Pneumococcal Vaccination for All Seniors Aged 65 and Older

The High Authority for Health expands guidelines to address rising infection rates, with vaccination now advised regardless of underlying conditions.

The High Authority for Health (HAS) in France has recommended pneumococcal vaccination for all individuals aged 65 and older, extending beyond those with pre-existing health conditions.
Streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacterium responsible for invasive infections like meningitis and pneumonia, poses severe risks to older adults, with 60% of invasive cases occurring in this age group.
Current vaccination rates are critically low, between 5% and 16.9%, prompting the HAS to emphasize age as a standalone risk factor for severe infections.
The recommended Prevenar-20 vaccine, developed by Pfizer, is a single-dose option that can be administered alongside flu and COVID-19 vaccines for convenience.
The European Medicines Agency is expected to review another pneumococcal vaccine, PCV21, which may offer broader protection against additional bacterial strains.