(Reuters) -The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday recommended expanding the use of vaccines to adults between 50-64 years to protect against pneumococcal disease.
The agency's earlier recommendation for vaccination was for adults 65 years or older and children younger than 5, as well as for children and adults with certain conditions.
Children younger than five and adults above 65 are at an increased risk of contracting pneumococcal disease, which can cause infections, including lung pneumonia, and spreads through contact with secretions such as saliva or mucus.
The agency's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 14 to one in favor of lowering the age for adult vaccination, which the CDC said gives more people the chance to protect against the disease at ages when the risk of infection increases substantially.
Pneumococcal vaccines from Merck and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) are currently available in the U.S. market.
"The recommendation ... is a significant step forward in efforts to enhance equitable access to pneumococcal conjugate vaccines and may improve vaccination rates," Merck said in a statement.
Merck offers three approved pneumococcal vaccines, including Vaxneuvance for individuals aged six weeks and older and Pneumovax 23 for adults over 50 and children above two.
In June, the U.S. health regulator approved Capvaxive, Merck's next-generation vaccine that helps produce an immune response against 21 serotypes of the bacteria, for adults aged 18 years and above.
Pfizer's Prevnar 20, which protects against 20 serotypes, is approved for individuals above six weeks of age.