Pfizer cites need for PCV13 to combat pneumonia among children in PHL

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Tuesday emphasized the need for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13 (PCV13) to combat pneumonia among Filipino children aged 5 years old and below.

In a statement, Pfizer medical director Dr. James Wee said three types of deadly microbes or serotypes that cause pneumonia in children are still prevalent in the Philippines, and “using the proper vaccine as a preventive measure is critical.”

“Our children are at risk and vaccination is key. PCV13 can hold at bay these strains,” he said.

The Department of Health (DOH) has put PCV13 under health technology assessment to determine its safety and effectiveness after its procurement was postponed due to calls for an open and competitive bidding.

The DOH has postponed the bidding for P4.9 billion worth of PCV stock for 2020 to review the data raised by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo earlier said, noting that GSK asked for a reconsideration of its vaccine as a “viable option.”

Pfizer, however, noted that the DOH has been using PCV13 since 2014.

“Globally, the vaccine is used in 126 out of 159 countries with ongoing national immunization programs,” it said.

“From 2015 to 2019, there were 18 countries that introduced PCV13: Spain, Cambodia, Portugal, Solomon Islands, Uzbekistan, Eritrea, Lebanon, Namibia, Mauritius, Algeria, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, India (5 states), Romania, Haiti, Mongolia and Seychelles and Bhutan,” it added.

The United States and China are on PCV 13 exclusively, according to Pfizer. —Ted Cordero/VDS, GMA News