Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Re: CDC recommendations for pneumococcus vaccines

The CDC recommendations you posted are rather arbitrary, IMO. Clearly, getting both vaccines provides better coverage than getting only one of them. Inasmuch as Prevnar 13 generates a more potent immunogenic response than Pneumovax (see #msg-154634395), many healthcare providers (including mine) give it first, despite the fewer number of antigens.

The waiting period between the two vaccinations is also rather arbitrary. As long as one waits at least 8 weeks before getting the second vaccination, it probably doesn’t matter much—in terms of safety—how long the gap is. (The proscribed waiting period might be different with the second-generation vaccines that are not yet on the market.)