Addressing the Global Challenge of Childhood Pneumonia
By Parag Deshmukh and Dr. Amanda Leach
Parag Deshmukh is Executive Director at the Serum Institute of India. Dr. Amanda Leach is Vaccine Development Director, Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH
Childhood pneumonia remains a pressing global health issue, with more than 700,000 children under the age of five succumbing to this preventable disease each year. Despite the availability of life-saving vaccines, many children are still not receiving the protection they need.
Pneumonia, particularly caused by the pneumococcus bacterium, is a leading cause of death among children in low- and middle-income countries. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have proven to be effective in preventing pneumococcal disease and reducing the need for antibiotics. However, approximately 40% of the world’s children have yet to receive a PCV, highlighting the urgent need for increased access to these vaccines.
Historically, the pricing of PCVs has been a major barrier to global access. While efforts have been made to accelerate access in low-income countries through initiatives like Gavi, middle-income countries face challenges in procuring enough doses due to budget constraints.
To bridge this gap, a partnership between Serum Institute of India and PATH has developed PNEUMOSIL®, a 10-serotype PCV that is affordable and WHO-prequalified. Priced at $2 USD per dose for eligible countries, PNEUMOSIL® offers a cost-effective solution for countries with high disease burdens.
By ensuring equitable access to PCVs, we not only save lives from pneumonia but also combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Vaccination with PCVs has been shown to lower infection rates, reduce the use of antibiotics, and mitigate the spread of drug-resistant strains of disease.
Reaching the target vaccination coverage of 90% could prevent over 27,000 deaths annually and 1.5 million disability-adjusted life years. This underscores the importance of providing affordable and accessible vaccination options to every child, ultimately giving them the opportunity to lead a healthy life.
Through continued efforts to increase vaccine coverage and combat childhood pneumonia, we can make significant strides in improving global health outcomes and reducing the burden of preventable diseases.
