The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7387 p160
11 February 2006

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Chief Medical Officer announces inclusion of Prevenar in childhood vaccination schedule

Prevenar pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) has been added to the UK childhood immunisation schedule on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

Chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, who announced the changes this week, said: “Pneumococcal infection can cause very serious illness such as meningitis and pneumonia. The new vaccine will save lives and prevent hundreds more cases of serious illness and disability.”

PCV will be given at two and four months of age, and the first meningococcal group C (MenC) injection — currently given at two months — is subsequently being removed. A third MenC injection will now be given at 12 months, alongside a fourth Haemophilus influenzae type b booster — expected to become available as a combined injection. A booster PCV will be given at 13 months with the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Changes to the schedule will come into effect later this year or in 2007.