Pfizer supplies pneumococcal disease vaccine in AMC scheme

Pfizer has commenced a childhood immunisation program for pneumococcal disease in Nicaragua as part of an international public health initiative.

The pharmaceutical company is supplying doses of its innovative new treatment Prevenar 13 to the underprivileged nation under the terms of an Advance Market Commitment (AMC) agreed with the GAVI Alliance earlier this year.

This scheme, which is being part-financed by the UK, Italian, Canadian, Russian and Norwegian governments, is designed to expand access to vaccines in some of the world's poorest countries.

Prevenar 13 is the sole pneumococcal conjugate vaccine available under the scheme with World Health Organization prequalification for use among children up to the age of five.

Mark Swindell, president of Pfizer Vaccines, said: "Pfizer remains steadfast in its commitment to accelerate global access to its vaccines and medicines – public-private partnerships such as those that underpin the AMC are a great example of how to make critical progress."

Last month, Pfizer announced that it will be launching a network of partnerships with academic institutions worldwide in the coming years under its new Global Centers for Therapeutic Innovation scheme.