Oct 23 (Reuters) - Advisers to the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention on Wednesday recommended expanding the

use of vaccines to adults between 50-64 years to protect against

pneumococcal disease.

The CDC currently recommends all children younger than 5 and

all adults 65 years or older get vaccinated for the disease.

Vaccination is also recommended for some children and adults

with certain conditions.

The agency's Advisory Committee on Immunization

Practices voted 14 to one in favor of expanding the vaccine's

use to all adults aged 50 years or older.

Earlier in the day, the CDC's work group backed the use

of the vaccine in the same cohort of adults.

Vaccines from Merck ( MRK ) and Pfizer ( PFE ) are

currently available in the U.S. market.

Pneumococcal disease can lead to infections in several

parts of the body, including the lungs, where it can cause

pneumonia.