Pfizer Inc welcomes announcement from the GAVI Alliance that Pfizer’s pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Prevenar 13 (pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine {13-valent, adsorbed}), is now included in the expanded pediatric immunization programme in Tanzania. Pneumococcal disease is one of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable deaths worldwide in children younger than 5 years of age and results in more than one out of every five deaths in children younger than 5 years of age in Tanzania.2,3

The representatives from GAVI Alliance, including board chair Dagfinn Høybråten; the United Nations; government officials, and the country’s first lady, Salma Kikwete, will gather at a health and vaccination centre in Morogoro, outside Dar es Salaam, for the launch and immunization of the first Tanzanian child with Prevenar 13.

The availability of Prevenar 13 in Tanzania is made possible by the Advance Market Commitment (AMC), an innovative funding mechanism that provides newer vaccines on a sustainable, affordable and accelerated basis to the world’s poorest countries. In just two years, 20 countries, including Tanzania, have introduced Prevenar 13 into their immunization programmes as part of the AMC. This potentially lifesaving vaccine is being offered to help protect an estimated 10.5 million infants and children in these developing countries from pneumococcal pneumonia and invasive disease caused by the serotypes in the vaccine.

“Pfizer is accelerating access to Prevenar 13 to infants and children who are most vulnerable, and our partnership with the GAVI Alliance helps ensure that this goal is realized,” says Susan Silbermann, president, vaccines, Pfizer. “Since pneumococcal pneumonia continues to be a major threat to young children in Tanzania, the AMC has the potential to significantly contribute to the achievement of the United Nation’s fourth Millennium Development Goal of reducing infant mortality two-thirds by 2015.”

Pfizer will supply up to 480 million doses of Prevenar 13 under the AMC to help expand immunization programs against pneumococcal disease by 2023.

Pfizer has been a long-standing partner of the GAVI Alliance, since March 2010, when the Company entered into the first 10-year agreement to provide Prevenar 13 to infants and young children in the world’s poorest countries under the AMC framework. Pneumococcal vaccines are expected to reach more than 50 GAVI-supported countries by 2015 To meet the growing global need for Prevenar 13, Pfizer is increasing its manufacturing capabilities through a combination of capital investment, process improvements and efficiency measures throughout its supply network. Additionally, Pfizer is engaged in the development of a preserved, multi-dose vial which, subject to the required regulatory approval, World Health Organization prequalification and AMC eligibility requirements, would provide an alternative option for developing world countries.

Prevenar 13 is also approved for use in adults 50 years of age and older in more than 100 countries, and is the first and only pneumococcal vaccine to be granted WHO prequalification in the adult population.

Pneumococcal disease is a group of illnesses caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae), also known as pneumococcus. It includes invasive infections such as bacteremia and meningitis, as well as non-invasive disease such as pneumonia and acute otitis media. While pneumococcus can infect people of all ages, infants and young children and the elderly are at heightened risk.

In the United States, Prevnar 13 is indicated for use in children six weeks through 5 years of age for the prevention of invasive disease (e.g., meningitis, bacteremia) caused by 13 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F). The vaccine is also indicated in adults 50 years of age and older for active immunization for the prevention of pneumonia and invasive disease caused by the 13 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes contained in the vaccine (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F). Indication is based on immune responses.

The WHO prequalified Prevenar 13 for active immunization of infants and children from six weeks through five years of age against invasive disease, pneumonia and otitis media and for active immunization of adults 50 years of age and older against pneumonia and invasive disease caused by the 13 pneumococcal serotypes (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F) contained in the vaccine.