HiNT vaccine against pneumococcus arrives in Mexico

At least 20 thousand deaths occur annually in Latin America caused by pneumococcus. The pneumococcal bacterium causing invasive pneumococcal diseases (ENI), circulates in the blood and causes pneumonia, which affects the covers of the brain in the form of meningitis.

Another important number of the population is also affected by the non-invasive respiratory disease that usually manifests as acute otitis media (OMA) with more than 5 million cases diagnosed each year in Latin America.

Against this background, the Doctor William Hausdorff , vice president and head of vaccine development, Synflorix and new generation vaccines GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Biological, said: "In the coming weeks will be available in Mexico the pneumococcal vaccine of dual protection against 'S. Pneumonie and Haemophilus Influenzae non-typeable (HiNT) 'That will offer a wide coverage and immunological response worldwide against Invasive Pneumococcal Disease and Otitis Media'.

Childhood pneumococcal diseases such as meningitis, pneumonia and bacteremia, which cause the death of nearly 1 million children under 5 years of age worldwide, and otitis media (OM) reason for hearing impairment in critical stages of child development, can be prevented through vaccination.

 

The danger of pneumococcus

To invite to know this new preventive alternative, Dr. William Hausdorff pointed out that when Otitis Media goes from acute to recurrent, it can mean from a slight hearing loss , to serious alterations that can lead a child to learning problems and to the consequent need for surgery for the placement of tympanostomy tubes.

It is worth mentioning that pneumonia is the most common cause of death by pneumococcus around the world. It is also a devastating disease described by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as the "Forgotten child killer".

"Infectious diseases in the pediatric age continue to be one of the greatest challenges especially in children under 5 years of age. Although diseases such as diarrhea, tuberculosis, malaria and AIDS are very often our focus, pneumonia easily exceeds the number of deaths to any of these diseases, "commented Dr. Hausdorff.

 

Vaccine and protection

During his presentation, Dr. Hausdorff explained that this new vaccine approved in 65 countries and pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO), is the only one that currently achieves greater protection against Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (ENI), meningitis, pneumonia and Otitis Media (OM), by offering additional coverage against three pneumococcal strains (1, 5 and 7F), in addition to the seven serotypes (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, 23F) that are currently already covered by the existing pneumococcal pediatric vaccine.

The vice president and head of vaccine development at GlaxoSmithKline explained that the coverage who will have the new vaccine in the world , is close to 80-90% of the serotypes that produce Invasive disease according to the latest surveillance data provided by SIREVA, PAHO and WHO.

"The GSK dual protection vaccine is indicated for the active immunization of children between 6 weeks of age and 2 years of age, to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease, as well as pneumonia and otitis media caused by S. Pneumonia and Haemophilus Influenzae Nontypable (HiNT)"Dr. Hausedorff finished.


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