By David Wild
A systematic review and meta-analysis of six studies concluded that the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) is more effective than the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) against vaccine-type pneumococcal pneumonia in older adults.
Although the research was limited by variations in the design of studies it included, a pooled analysis showed that PPSV23 was only 35% efficacious and effective against pneumococcal pneumonia.
“Pooled [vaccine