Vaccination remains weapon against meningitis, says Pfizer boss

To effectively tackle the current outbreak of meningitis in Nigeria which has claimed over 700 lives so far, Medical Director of Pfizer, Kodjo Soroh, has identified vaccination as key strategy to containing the bacterial infection, stressing that vaccine prevents and reduces spread of diseases.

Soroh who disclosed this in a statement to mark World Immunization Week/World Meningitis Day, said vaccines have significantly reduced the threat of diseases that were once widespread and sometimes fatal.

World Immunization Week, which is held from 24-30 April 2017, aims to raise awareness about the critical importance of full immunization throughout life, and its role in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

According to him, more people benefit from safe and efficacious vaccines today than ever before – and the list of diseases that vaccines can help prevent continues to grow.
His words: “let’s be aware about the critical importance of immunization, bearing in mind that vaccination is key strategy to containing Meningococcal meningitis, ensuring continued protection for the current and future generation while taking into consideration the current outbreak of Meningitis in the region.

“There is need therefore, for availability of vaccines in Nigeria to prevent outbreak of diseases. Bacterial meningitis is very serious because its onset is rapid and the infection is associated with a significant risk of death; it may also result in mental retardation, deafness, epilepsy, etc.

“It can be treated with appropriate antibiotics that also prevent spread. Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial form of meningitis, a serious infection of the meninges that affects the brain membrane. It can cause severe brain damage and is fatal in 50% of cases if untreated.”

Furthermore, the medic said that several different bacteria can cause meningitis. “Neisseria meningitidis is the one with the potential to cause large epidemics. There are 12 serogroups of N. meningitidis that have been identified, 6 of which (A, B, C, W, X and Y) can cause epidemics. Geographic distribution and epidemic potential differ,” he said.

Also, “Immunization is widely recognized as one of the most successful and cost effective health interventions. Pfizer’s goal is to protect lives with innovative vaccines to fight serious diseases worldwide and make vaccination against potentially deadly diseases available.”
Soroh noted that Meningococcal bacteria were transmitted from person-to-person through droplets from the nose and throat of carriers. Close and prolonged contact with a carrier of meningitis facilitates the spread of the disease.

In her remarks, Director, Corporate Affairs, Pfizer, Margaret Olele, said “We encourage individuals, families and communities to learn the signs and symptoms of meningitis, the importance of urgent treatment of the disease, and that prevention is available through vaccination against some forms of meningitis”.

Olele assured that Pfizer will continue to deliver on its commitments to colleagues and customers, protecting lives with innovative vaccines to fight serious diseases worldwide.
“We are leveraging on leading technology in vaccine design and conjugation in an effort to provide preventative solutions to these complex, difficult-to-treat bacterial pathogens”, she said.