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Date of submission of the HTAC Recommendation: 27 March 2026
Date of notification to HTAC on the SOH decision: 18 June 2026

The Secretary of Health (SOH) concurs with the final recommendation of the HTA Council on pneumococcal vaccines for the prevention of diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in elderly adults 60 years old and above, including the following vaccine regimens: (1) pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13 (PCV13) in sequence to pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), (2) pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 15 (PCV15) in sequence to PPSV23, and (3) PPSV23 alone through Department of Health (DOH) Department Circular No. 2026-0221 “Additional Indication for the existing Pneumococcal Polyvalent Vaccine (PPSV-23) in the Philippine National Drug Formulary” published on 17 June 2026.

As a final recommendation, the HTA Council recommends the government financing of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) for all adults 60 years old and above.

For further details, please refer to the documents below:

[With SOH Decision] HTA Council Final Recommendation on Pneumococcal Vaccines for Elderly Adults (18 June 2026)Download
[Evidence to Recommendation] Re-evaluation of Pneumococcal Vaccination for Elderly Adults (Public Copy)Download
[DC2026-0311] SOH Decision on HTAC Recommendation for Pneumococcal Vaccines for Elderly AdultsDownload