A new study published in the journal Vaccine found no immunologic interference with the co-administration of adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV; Shingrix) and the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23; Pneumovax 23) in adult patients aged ≥50 years.
In this Phase 3, open-label, randomized, controlled multicenter study, a total of 865 patients were randomized to receive one of the following vaccine regimens: (1) the first RZV dose and PPSV23 together on Day 0 and the second dose of RZV at Month 2 (N=432); or (2) PPSV23 on Day 0 and then first RZV dose at Month 2 with the second RZV dose at Month 4 (N=433; control group). The primary objectives of the study were to assess RZV vaccine response rate (VRR) in the co-administration group and to demonstrate the non-inferiority of antibody response to RZV and PPSV23 in the co-administration group vs the control group. Local and general adverse events were recorded for 7 days after each vaccination.
Results showed that the VRRs to RZV were 98.3% (95% CI, 96.4–99.3%) in both study groups 1 month post-second RZV dose (first co-primary objective). The adjusted geometric mean concentration ratio at 1 month after the second dose of RZV was 1.02 (95% CI, 0.93–1.11), which met the criteria for the second co-primary objective, proving non-inferiority of the co-administration group vs the control group. In addition, anti-pneumococcal antibody MOPA geometric mean titers 1 month after PPSV23 vaccination were found to be similar between the 2 regimens.
Local symptoms after the first RZV dose were reported by a similar proportion of patients in both arms; general symptoms were more frequently seen when the first dose of RZV and PPSV23 were administered together. Otherwise, no differences were reported between groups after the second RZV dose was given.
“These results support the concomitant administration of RZV and PPSV23 at the same clinic visit, which might increase opportunities of older adults for vaccination against [herpes zoster] and pneumococcal disease,” the authors concluded.
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