The Department of Preventive Medicine, Abu Dhabi hosts educational meeting for International Physicians

The meeting was sponsored by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and attended by one hundred physicians from across the region.

Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of serious illness in children and adults throughout the world. Pneumococcal disease is believed to result in 1 million deaths worldwide each year, especially affecting young children in developing countries.

Stephen Lockhart, Assistant Vice President, Head of Bacterial Vaccine Clinical Research, Wyeth Vaccines Research explains, "Pneumococcus is a common bacterium which can cause meningitis, severe blood infections, pneumonia and ear infections. Prevenar has been used routinely in the US for four years and has demonstrated more than 97% efficacy in preventing invasive pneumococcal diseases in young children.

Many people, including up to 60% of children, carry pneumococcal bacteria in the nose and throat, which can be easily transmitted through coughing, sneezing and close interaction. Most of the time this is completely normal and harmless. However in a susceptible person (children under the age of two, the elderly and those with poor functioning immune systems), the bacteria can cause a wide range of serious illnesses.

Dr. Ali Al Marzooqi, Director, Department of Preventive Medicine, Abu Dhabi adds, "This meeting provides the opportunity to discuss recent advances in the field of immunisation against pneumococcal disease. There are currently two main vaccines available for prevention of these diseases. The first is the polysaccharide vaccine, which is proved to be effective but importantly cannot be administered to very young children. The other option is the conjugate vaccine, Prevenar, which is a newer vaccine and is indicated for use in children under two years of age."