American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Which group is indicated for receiving PPSV23 before the age of 65?

1. Women with breast cancer

2. People with heart disease

3. Children with asthma

4. Individuals over age 70

The correct answer is: People with heart disease

The recommendation for administering the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) to specific groups before the age of 65 is based on their increased risk of developing pneumococcal infections. Individuals with underlying health conditions, such as heart disease, are at a higher risk, making it imperative that they receive the vaccination even if they are younger than 65 years. Vaccination helps protect these individuals against serious complications from pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. In contrast, women with breast cancer may require further assessment depending on their treatment status and immune function, while children with asthma are generally not specifically indicated for PPSV23 unless they have additional risk factors. Individuals over age 70 are typically recommended to receive pneumococcal vaccination as a standard care measure, but they do not fit the criteria for receiving PPSV23 before age 65, since they fall into an age group that is generally advised to receive both PPSV23 and PCV13. Therefore, the group indicated for PPSV23 vaccination before the age of 65 would specifically be those with heart disease.