COPD

COPD

PNEUMOVAX® 23 (pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine)
Prescribing Information [External link]

PPV coverage in COPD patients up to March 2022³

of COPD patients were unprotected against pneumococcal disease in 2022³

Order and start vaccinating today

Check PPV23 stock status

You can help protect your patients from pneumococcal disease all year round by offering PNEUMOVAX® 23 (PPV23) as part of the NHS National Immunisation Programme.^1,2

Patients with COPD are at increased risk of pneumococcal disease⁴

Up to 1/3 of COPD exacerbations may be caused by pneumococcal bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae).^5–7

COPD is one of the most frequent comorbid conditions present in patients with pneumonia – associated with an increased number of hospital admissions, worse outcomes and higher healthcare costs.^8–10

Adults with COPD are >16x more likely to get a serious pneumococcal infection vs healthy adults.⁸

Unlike seasonal influenza, the chronic nature of COPD means affected individuals are at risk of pneumococcal disease all year round, not only in the winter.⁴

Offer/administer PNEUMOVAX® 23 at your surgery all year round, to prevent your patients from falling through the cracks^1,2

PNEUMOVAX® 23 offers immunisation against pneumococcal infections in ‘at-risk’ patients 2 years old and over with COPD.*¹

You only need a single 0.5 mL dose (injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly) for most of your eligible patients.^†1,2

Efficacy data

• PPV23 has been shown to reduce the incidence of CAP in COPD patients <65 years, with an FEV1 <40% predicted, or comorbidities (especially cardiac comorbidities)⁸
• An updated Cochrane review identified 12 trials including 2171 adults with COPD, comparing those who did and did not receive pneumococcal vaccination¹⁰ 
  • PPV23 reduced the risk of CAP in people with moderate to severe COPD
  • PPV23 helps provide protection against CAP, although no evidence indicates that vaccination reduced the risk of confirmed pneumococcal pneumonia, which was a relatively rare event
  • The researchers calculated that 19 people would need to be vaccinated to avoid one episode of CAP (95% CI; 13–52 people)
  • In line with current guidance, this review supports that all people with COPD should be given pneumococcal vaccination to provide some protection against CAP
• In trials conducted in at-risk populations, including patients with COPD, vaccine effectiveness was reported to be 50–70%²

For more information on the safety of PNEUMOVAX® 23, visit our Safety information page

PPV23 is in stock^‡ and available to order via ImmForm as part of the National Immunisation Programme, and can be given to your COPD patients at any time during the year^1,11,12 

Check PPV23 stock status

*PNEUMOVAX® 23 (pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine) is recommended for active immunisation against pneumococcal disease in children aged from 2 years, adolescents and adults.^2
†Revaccination may be needed in certain at-risk groups. The timing and need of revaccination should be determined on the basis of official recommendations and in line with the SmPC.^1,2 
‡Subject to supply.
CAP = community acquired pneumonia; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV = forced expiratory volume; PPV = pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine; SmPC = Summary of Product Characteristics.

References

1. The Green Book – Immunisation against infectious disease (January 2020). Chapter 25 – Pneumococcal. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/857267/GB_Chapter_25_pneumococcal_January_2020.pdf.
2. Pneumovax-23 Summary of Product Characteristics.
3. UK Health Security Agency. Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPV) coverage report, England, April 2021 to March 2022. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pneumococcal-polysaccharide-vaccine-ppv-vaccine-coverage-estimates/pneumococcal-polysaccharide-vaccine-ppv-coverage-report-england-april-2021-to-march-2022.
4. Torres A, et al. Thorax 2015;70(10):984–989.
5. Shimizu K, et al. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2015;10:2009–2016.
6. Mantero M, et al. Ther Adv Respir Dis. 2017;11(10):403–407.
7. Wark PAB, et al. Respirol. 2013;18(6):996–1002.
8. Restrepo MI, et al. Tuberc Respir Dis (Seoul). 2018;81(3):187–197.
9. Froes F, et al. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2017;12:3457–3468.
10. Walters JA. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;1(1):CD001390.
11. UK Health Security Agency. The complete routine immunisation schedule from February 2022. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. BNF Pneumococcal vaccine. Available at: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/treatment-summaries/pneumococcal-vaccine/.
12. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. BNF Pneumococcal vaccine. Available at: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/treatment-summaries/pneumococcal-vaccine/.

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Supporting documentation

PNEUMOVAX® 23 (pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine)
Prescribing Information

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