Abbott launches 14 valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine for broader protection against pneumococcal infections in India

New Delhi: Abbott launched its Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, PneumoShield 14, for children over 6 weeks of age on November 27, 2024.

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. 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.

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. A.J. Chitkara, Pediatrician, Sarvodya Child Care, Delhi 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.