Petrovax completed scheduled pneumococcal vaccine supplies

On December 20, Petrovax Pharm completed supplies of the 13-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine for the National Immunization Schedule. The company shipped 3.4 m vaccine doses to Russia’s regions to immunize young children.

Petrovax Pharm started shipping the vaccine in November immediately after winning the bidding invited by the Russian Ministry of Health. Within the shortest time possible, the vaccine was delivered to all Russia’s regions.

Petrovax Pharm is the first Russian company to perform a full-cycle manufacturing technology transfer for such vaccine class. The 13-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine is manufactured at Petrovax Pharm’s facility to the international GMP standards.

Pneumococcal infection: background information

Pneumococcal infection is a pressing issue for Russia’s public health because of high prevalence, severity, and a high disability and mortality risk. According to the Russian Ministry of Health, pneumococcus ranks first among the pneumonia, meningitis, and bacterial otitis causes in children from birth until the age of 5 years. It also leads the ranks in terms of lethality rate in infants. In Russia, pneumococcal vaccination has been on the National Immunization Schedule since 2014.