KARACHI, March 30: The World Health Organisation, after considering various reports and assessments, has urged governmental organisations around the world to accord high priority to Pneumococcal Conjugate (IPD) vaccine’s inclusion in their national immunisation programmes, particularly in the countries where mortality among children aged under five is of the proportion 50:1000 live births or where around 50,000 children die annually.

The plan was proposed after recognising the heavy burden of pneumococcal disease occurring in young children and the safety and efficacy of PCV-7 (Prevenar) in the said age group. This burden is substantially higher among individuals who are infected with IPD.

Since PCVs have been shown to be safe and efficacious when used in children infected with IPD, the WHO recommended that countries with high prevalence of IPD should prioritise the introduction of PCV-7. And then population with a high prevalence of other underlying conditions that increase the risk of pneumococcal disease and other related diseases, should also be targeted for vaccination.

WHO has recommended that IPD vaccine must be administered during immunisation programme.—PPI