Pfizer, PNP intensify anti-pneumonia drive

MANILA, Philippines -  As part of its commitment to save more lives, Pfizer Philippines recently partnered with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to provide free pneumococcal vaccine shots to the children of its police force to protect them from pneumococcal disease — the number one vaccine-preventable cause of death for children.

Led by PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo, the vaccination drive held at the Heroes Ward at Camp Crame in Quezon City, benefited hundreds of kids aged two to four.

The vaccination was carried out by PNP nurses using Pfizer’s breakthrough pediatric product with the broadest coverage against the bacterium streptoccoccus pneumoniae, which is a leading cause of pneumonia.

Bacalzo said partnerships such as this are able to provide the PNP with resources that would improve the lives of not only its police force, but also their families.

“And if not for this vaccination drive, the lives of our children would be at great risk,” he said.

In early 2010, the PNP partnered with Pfizer Philippines in its initiative to improve the health of its ranks in the police force through the KASAMA ng PNP (Kalusugan Para sa Mamamayan) project, under the Pfizer Patient Care Program, which is targeted at reinforcing the significance of a comprehensive and affordable health care system via a holistic approach.

Furthermore, in the previous year, Pfizer Philippines successfully partnered with several local governments and organizations to strengthen its anti-pneumonia vaccination campaign.

The partnership took Pfizer to Nueva Ecija, Malabon, Palawan, Bacolod City, and Pangasinan where it administered free vaccine shots to children against diseases like pneumonia, meningitis, and otitis media or ear infection. 

For more information on Pfizer’s health initiatives, visit www.pfizer.com.ph.