The Expanded Program on Immunization under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, yesterday introduced a new vaccine called the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV-7) in its routine immunization services to help protect children against pneumococcal diseases and meningitis.

This was revealed at a press briefing held at the ministry's conference room in Banjul, to inform and update the public on the preparation and progress made for the upcoming PCV-7 introduction in order to solicit support for advocacy and sensitization. The Gambia is second in Africa (after Rwanda), to introduce this new vaccine in its routine immunization services. It is envisaged that this will have a great impact in reducing childhood morbidity and mortality.

Bekai Camara, the director of Health Services, noted that pneumococcal disease is a leading infectious killer of children and adults worldwide. "The disease kills up to 1% of all children born in high mortality areas and costs health systems and households a lot in terms of acute care and costs," he said.

He also said that pneumococcal meningitis leaves 50% of surviving children with life-long disabilities that impede economic productivity. According to him, more that 150 million cases of pneumonia occur every year among children under -5 in developing countries, accounting more than 95% of all new cases worldwide. He said that the disease is a leading infectious disease that is affecting children in many ways such as meningitis, malaria, measles etc.

He said that pneumococcal causes nearly 1 in 5 deaths of children under-5 worldwide and kills more children than AIDS, malaria and measles combined. He also said that pneumococcal meningitis kills, and can cause life-long disabilities for survivors. Camara noted that the disease is caused by a group of bacteria called streptococcus pueumoniae ria also known as pneumococci. He said that the disease-causing organism lives in the nose and throats of people of all ages. He said it can infect many different sites.

He finally said that a full series of the 7-valent conjugate PCV7 vaccine is 97% effective in preventing invasive pneumococcal disease caused by the seven types of the pneumococci contained in the vaccine. He added that the vaccine is 89% effective in preventing invasions caused by all strains of the pneumococci and reduces the incidence of ear infection by about 10%.