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By Veronica Kirigo
An advanced pneumonia vaccine has been unveiled to combat the deadly disease.
The innoculant developed by Pfizer, an international pharmaceutical company, called Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) 13, follows the roll out of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the country by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation early this year.
"Pneumococcal diseases are the leading vaccine preventable causes of death in children less than five years of age worldwide according to World Health Organisation statistics.
"PCVs play a critical role in reducing the burden of pneumococcal diseases and the attendant cost and health implications," said Pfizer’s Senior Regional Director, Medical Affairs, Vaccines in Emerging Markets, Africa and Middle East, Dr Amgad Gamil.
Pneumococcal disease currently claims more than a million lives of people annually — including more than half a million children before their fifth birthday.
Pneumonia is the most common form of serious pneumococcal disease and accounts for 18 per cent of child deaths in developing countries, making it one of the two leading causes of death among young children.
"The pneumococcal vaccine can help in dramatically reducing the number of children’s deaths. By combining the power of immunisation with other measures like better nutrition and sanitation, we can change and save millions of children’s lives," said Prof Fred Were, Chairman of Kenya Paediatrics Association.
Prof Were noted that pneumonia claims more children’s lives in Kenya than malaria, Aids and measles combined and urged the Government to invest more in pneumonia prevention and treatment.
"Up to 20 per cent of infant deaths in Kenya can be attributed to pneumonia. However, Kenya spends less that five of her GDP on health, which is even below the Africa’s average of 5.5 per cent," added he added.
The new pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV 13) protects against 13 types of bacteria, which are responsible for most severe pneumococcal infections among children.
PCV 13 replaces a previous conjugate vaccine (PCV 7), which protected against seven pneumococcal types and has been in use since 2000.
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