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Cyprus and Ireland Add Wyeth's 7-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV7) to Their National Immunisation Schedules

Maidenhead, England (ots/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.

Contact:

Media Contacts: Gill Markham, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals,
+44(0)1628-692536

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