- 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
Mumbai, India, 27 November 2024 – 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. 1 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. Vijay Yewale, Pediatrician, Yewale Hospital, Mumbai 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.