MAIDENHEAD, England, September 4 /PRNewswire/ --
-- Prevenar Vaccine to Help Protect Children Against the Leading Vaccine-Preventable Cause of Death in Young Children Worldwide
MAIDENHEAD, England, September 4 /PRNewswire/ --
Wyeth today announced that Cyprus and the Republic of Ireland have initiated national immunisation programmes (NIPs) for infants and young children against pneumococcal disease by adding Prevenar(TM) (Pneumococcal Saccharide Conjugated Vaccine, Adsorbed), also called PCV7, to their national immunization schedules.(1) Including Ireland and Cyprus, this now makes 26 countries across the world that have included Prevenar in their NIPs.(1)
"Wyeth, the manufacturer of Prevenar, is pleased to be part of these initiatives and welcomes the introduction of this life-saving vaccine into national immunization schedules," says Dr E. David McIntosh, a paediatrician and European Medical Director, Infectious Diseases/Vaccines at Wyeth. "Wyeth is dedicated to the wellbeing of children and to continuing to work with governments and public health agencies to further expand access to Prevenar to help prevent serious and debilitating pneumococcal infections caused by serotypes contained in the vaccine. This includes facilitating the introduction of the vaccine in those countries that have announced their decision to include Prevenar in their national immunisation programmes but have yet to introduce the vaccine as part of their immunisation schedule."
Pneumococcal disease results in approximately 1.6 million deaths per year worldwide of which up to 1 million deaths are in children younger than five years of age.(2) Pneumococcal disease is the leading vaccine-preventable cause of death in children younger than five years of age worldwide.(3)
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends priority inclusion of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in national childhood immunization programs worldwide due to the significant burden of pneumococcal disease and demonstrated vaccine efficacy.(4) Recently, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) to WHO issued a preliminary recommendation that pneumococcal disease prevention be ranked as a very high priority on a global basis.(5)
Prevenar(TM), the only licensed pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, is now available in 88 countries around the world, with more than 180 million doses distributed.(1)
Pneumococcal Disease
Pneumococcal disease affects both children and adults and is a leading cause of illness and death worldwide.(6) Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and describes a group of illnesses, including invasive infections, such as bacteremia/sepsis and meningitis, as well as pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infections, including otitis media.(7) Prevenar is the first and only pneumococcal conjugate vaccine approved to help protect infants and young children against pneumococcal disease caused by the serotypes included in the vaccine.(7)
Wyeth
Wyeth is one of the world's largest research-driven pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology products, nutritionals and non-prescription medicines that improve the quality of life for people worldwide. The Company's major divisions include Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal Health.
References:
1) Data on file, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.
2) March 2007-WHO position paper
3) Health Protection Agency (HPA): Centre for Infections.
Cumulative weekly number of reports of invasive pneumococcal disease
Due to any of the seven serotypes present in PCV-7: children <2 years
In England and Wales by epidemiological year: July-June (2003 to
date). Cumulative Weekly Report IPD. February 2008.
4) World Health Organization. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for
childhood immunization, March 2007- WHO position paper. Wkly Epidemiol
Record 2007;12:93-104.
5) World Health Organization. Meeting of the immunization Strategic
Advisory Group of Experts, November 2007 - conclusions and
recommendations. Wkly Epidemiol Record 2008; (83): 1-16.
6) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of
pneumococcal disease: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR. 1997;46(RR-8):1-24. Available at:
5236. Accessed February 14, 2008.
7) Summary of Product Characteristics for PREVENAR, Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Media Contacts: Gill Markham, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, +44(0)1628-692536
