Merck pneumococcal vaccine lands FDA nod, keeping up competition with Pfizer July 18, 2021 Auto Bot BioPharma, biopharma nl, Clinical Trials, FDA, Kenilworth, Merck, New Jersey, Pharma, Pneumococcal Vaccine, Vaccines 0 Vaxneuvance, a Merck pneumococcal vaccine, is now approved by the FDA. The intramuscular shot protects against 15 pneumococcal strains—five fewer than the 20 covered by a Pfizer pneumococcal vaccine that the FDA approved in June.