Child vaccination program begins in Jordan to protect against world's leading child killer

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About Pneumococcal Disease

Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as the pneumococcus, is a bacterium frequently found in the upper respiratory tract of healthy children and adults. The bacterium, however, cause a range of infections - from relatively mild ear infections to fatal pneumonia, meningitis and bacteraemia. Serious pneumococcal infections are most common in young children (especially those < 2 years old), the elderly and immune compromised individuals such as those who are undernourished or HIV positive.

The pneumococcus is the main cause of pneumonia, which kills more children than any other disease. Pneumonia causes nearly 1 in 5 deaths of children under five worldwide and kills more children than AIDS, malaria and measles combined. For those children in developing countries who contract and survive pneumococcal meningitis, one in four are left with serious disabilities, including neurological disorder, kidney disease, deafness, limb amputations, and developmental delays.

About Wyeth
Wyeth is one of the world's largest research-driven pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology products, nutritionals and non-prescription medicines that improve the quality of life for people worldwide. The Company's major divisions include Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal Health.

About Prevenar
Prevenar (Pneumococcal 7-valent Conjugate Vaccine) is approved by the World Health Organization for active immunisation of infants and children from 6 weeks through 9 years of age against invasive disease, pneumonia, and otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F.

Prevenar may be given at the same time as DTP, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, polio (OPV or IPV) and varicella. The use of Prevenar should be based on official recommendations taking into consideration the impact of invasive disease in different age groups as well as variability of serotype epidemiology in different geographic areas.

A PCV7 fact sheet is available upon request.