OREANDA-NEWS. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced today a major expansion of its humanitarian assistance program enabling broader access to its vaccine, Prevenar 13, in humanitarian emergency settings by offering its new multi-dose vial (MDV) at what will be the lowest prevailing global price, currently $3.10 per dose. In addition, given the acute need for aid on the ground, Pfizer will donate all sales proceeds for the first year of this program to humanitarian groups undertaking the difficult work of reaching vulnerable populations in emergency settings. Today’s announcement of a new and specific pricing tier for civil society organizations (CSOs) working in emergency settings builds on Pfizer’s longstanding support for humanitarian emergency relief around the world.

In the immediate term, Pfizer will meet humanitarian emergency needs through a short-term donation of the single-dose vial of Prevenar 13, which is available for expedited delivery.

Starting in 2017, refugees can receive the newest version of Prevenar 13, the MDV. This presentation is scheduled to be introduced early next year and contains four doses of Prevenar 13 in the same-sized vial that currently contains a single dose. This four-in-one vial is specially designed to address the unique conditions and challenges experienced in developing world settings and can help health workers in humanitarian emergencies. The MDV offers reduced cold storage and transportation requirements, helping to enable vaccination of children in humanitarian emergency situations more quickly. It has also been prequalified by the World Health Organization.

“Pfizer is proud of the significant impact that our Prevenar 13 vaccine and our partnerships with many humanitarian organizations have had on public health across the globe. Only by putting the needs of refugees at the center, can we all work collaboratively to help prevent disease in some of the world’s most vulnerable populations,” said Susan Silbermann, President and General Manager, Pfizer Vaccines. “Our new MDV presentation is an important vaccine technology, and in combination with our expanded humanitarian assistance program, will provide critical help in addressing the potential burden of pneumococcal disease in these populations that might otherwise go unreached. We are especially pleased to donate all proceeds from these sales to civil society organizations for the first year to support the significant additional needs these groups have on the ground.”

Pfizer Humanitarian Assistance Programs

Recognizing the critical need in settings requiring relief and emergency humanitarian assistance, Pfizer has a three-part approach which includes product donations, cash grants and other access solutions.

  • Pfizer donations are focused on specific diseases and designed to address the needs of people in a coordinated manner. The Company works with a range of local and global partners, including governments, health care experts, and CSOs to address the most pressing unmet medical needs and determine the most effective way for a donation to meet the needs of affected communities.
  • Pfizer supports a number of organizations working on providing relief and emergency humanitarian assistance to address refugee crises. The Pfizer Foundation provides cash grants to organizations working around the world to provide health care and other critical support to vulnerable populations.
  • Pfizer works closely with governments and CSOs to help provide access to its vaccines and regularly engages in discussions with partners on potential new access approaches to reach as many people as possible in emergency humanitarian situations.

About Prevenar 13®

Prevenar 13®*(pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine [13 – valent, adsorbed]) was first approved in the European Union (EU) in December 2009 for use in infants and young children to help protect against invasive pneumococcal disease. Prevenar 13® is approved for such use in more than 150 countries worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan. Prevenar 13® is the most widely used pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the world, and is included in the pediatric National Immunization Programs in 102 countries.i,ii It is approved in the United States, EU and other countries for use in infants, older children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years.

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