FDA approves Pfizer's pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for Pinoy adults

MANILA, Philippines - A new option for the Filipino seniors, Pfizer Philippines’ pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was recently approved by the Food and Drugs Administration as the first and only conjugate vaccine for adults in the country that aims to prevent pneumonia, the leading vaccine-preventable cause of death in the country.

The approval of the adult vaccine that protects against the bacterium Streptoccoccus pneumoniae, which is the leading cause of the deadly disease, came two months ahead of schedule, making the Philippines the third country in the world to secure approval, next to Colombia and Thailand. The United States is expected to secure approval in the fourth quarter of 2011.

According to Pfizer medical director Anthony Leachon, the approval of the adult indication will go a long way in helping millions of Filipinos in preventing pneumococcal diseases, such as pneumonia since studies show that it is the leading cause of morbidity and the fourth leading cause of mortality among Filipinos over the age of 50.  

“After several years of research and development and substantial resources invested to bring this vaccine to fruition, Pfizer takes pride in making this vaccine for adults available to the public because it is meant to save millions of lives from the dangers of pneumonia,” Leachon said.  

This milestone was made possible by the strong teamwork of Pfizer officials composed of Leachon, senior regulatory affairs manager Babette de la Rosa, associate medical director Cris Dumo, associate director for regulatory affairs Carol Bigornia, and cluster physicians Gigi Claveria and Dingdong Biruar. 

In the previous year, Pfizer Philippines strengthened its campaign against pneumococcal diseases by partnering with several local government units and organizations for an anti-pneumonia vaccination drive for another sector — children — wherein the company administered free vaccine shots to kids against diseases like pneumonia, meningitis, and otitis media or ear infection.     

The municipalities visited include those in Nueva Ecija, Malabon, Palawan, Bacolod City, and Pangasinan, as well as the charitable organization World Vision.

Pfizer’s Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine for adults will be available in the market by the end of 2011.