Don’t Let the Tripledemic Distract You (or Patients) from ‘Typical’ Preventable Infectious Diseases

The seemingly endless, start-and-stop recovery from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and fluctuating reports of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus rates can suck up a lot of attention in mainstream and medical media—so much so that efforts to prevent other infectious diseases can slide under the radar. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has continued to do its work as usual. ACIP adopted the following standards at its October meeting for the 2023 vaccination schedule:

• It’s recommended that adults with an immunocompromising condition, cochlear implant, or cerebrospinal fluid leak who have received both PCV13 and PPSV23 with incomplete vaccination status complete their pneumococcal vaccine series by receiving either a dose of PCV20 at least 5 years after the last pneumococcal vaccine dose or PPSV23 as previously recommended
• Also recommended is shared clinical decision-making concerning PCV20 for adults 65 years of age and older who completed their vaccine series with both PCV13 and PPSV23. “If a decision to administer PCV20 is made, a dose of PCV20 is recommended at least 5 years after the last pneumococcal vaccine dose.”
• Adults who only received PCV13 are advised to receive a dose of PCV20 at least 1 year after the PCV13 dose or PPSV23 (as previously recommended) to complete their pneumococcal vaccine series.

Consult the CDC’s dedicated ACIP page for more information.