Abbott Launches 14 Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV-14) That Offers Broadest Protection For Children

* With PneumoShield 14, Abbott is launching a Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV-14), covering the highest number of strains for children from 6 weeks of age

Pneumococcal vaccines help address pneumococcal bacterial infections, including pneumonia and meningitis, for which children under two years of age are most at risk

* The 14 strains in PneumoShield 14, offer broader protection than current pneumococcal vaccines in India

Abbott, the global healthcare leader, announced today the launch of its Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, PneumoShield 14, for children over 6 weeks of age. Abbott’s PCV-14 valent (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine), offers broad protection, covering the highest number of serotypes, or strains, as compared to existing PCV-10 and PCV-13 vaccines.

A strain refers to a genetic or structural variant or subtype of a microorganism. The PCV-14 terminology in Abbott’s PneumoShield 14 vaccine refers to the fact that this vaccine offers protection against 14 different strains of pneumococcal bacteria. A conjugate vaccine is a distinct type of vaccine that combines a part of the bacteria with a protein to make it work better. This helps the immune system recognize and fight off the bacteria more effectively, making it stronger against certain infections, which can result in severe diseases, especially among children.

Children under five years of age, especially those aged two years or under, face a high risk of pneumococcal disease, which is caused by a bacterial infection.[i] Pneumococcal infections can result in a range of conditions, including pneumonia, meningitis (inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord), or blood infections, collectively known as Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD). Vaccination can protect against some of these infections and can prevent complications in children.

IPD is associated with high mortality in children under five years of age, resulting in 14% of deaths in India.ii

The PCV-14 vaccine protects against five more strains than the PCV 10, and two more strains than the PCV 13 vaccines that are currently used in India, in private clinics and hospitals. The recommended immunization schedule for PneumoShield 14, which is administered via intramuscular injections, is at 6, 10, and  14 weeks.

Swati Dalal, Managing Director, Abbott India Ltd., commented, “Children, especially those under two years old, are at a higher risk of having pneumococcal disease. This can hinder their healthy growth and development and increase the risk of complications. This innovation offers broader protection potential against 14 pneumococcal strains in circulation, which cause the majority of pneumococcal-related diseases in India. Introducing this vaccine is another step in our commitment to further strengthen our pediatric portfolio, to help children stay healthy.”

Dr. Srinivas G Kasi, Pediatrician, Kasi Clinic, Bangalore added, “Immunization offers an important protective solution for parents to fight off pneumococcal-related diseases such as pneumonia and meningitis, especially among children. Considering the challenges in diagnosing and treating such diseases, there is a clear need for advanced vaccines with a wider representation of relevant pneumococcal bacteria strains. This in turn, helps provide broader protection against pneumococcal disease amongst children.”

Pneumococcal vaccines are part of the government’s national immunization program to reduce childhood mortality in the country. It is important to contact a doctor to ensure that vaccinations are administered at the correct time.

About Abbott:

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. In India, Abbott was established in 1910, and is one of the country's oldest and most admired healthcare companies. With more than 12,000 employees in the country, Abbott is helping to meet the healthcare needs of consumers, patients, and doctors throughout urban and rural India.

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