The Vice President, Her Excellency Dr. Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy last Wednesday launched a new Pneumoccocal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV-7) in The Gambia at the Kanifing Municipal Council Hall.
The new Pneumoccocal vaccine is said to be the latest vaccine currently available in the world market and The Gambia is the second country in Africa, after Rwanda, to launch this program.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the President Sheikh Professor Alh. Dr. Yahya A.J.J Jammeh, Vice President Njie-Saidy said government continues to be committed to the health sector as “a fearless advocate for social justice”, and will never encourage the disintegration of the health sector.
“Clearly”, she went on, “health is one of the sectors that have social sectors that have undergone impressive social and technical transformation under this government”, pointing out that over the years, The Gambia introduced three new vaccines in addition to the original six traditional vaccines.
“In this process, government’s commitment has been resolute and unwavering.  The cost of vaccines and essential consumables are always factored in our national budget as pronounced in the co-financing for vaccine initiatives”, she stated.
The Vice President went on to note that since the inception of Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI),  a large number of vaccine-preventable deaths among infants and children were averted, adding that The Gambia’s immunization programme has been recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the best in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ideally, the best way to contain the spread of any infection or communicable disease, for which effective vaccines are available, is to prevent it through immunization Vice President Njie-Saidy added.

She reiterated that the launching of this new vaccine is another milestone in the annals of our expanded programme on immunization (EPI) which is now fully integrated into the reproductive and child Health Programme, bringing immunization services closer to the doorstep of Gambians.
Vice President Njie-Saidy highlighted that this new vaccine is very expensive in the international market, but in partnership with GAVI, it will be given free of charge to every child living in the Gambia.

In her statement the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Mariatou Jallow stated that the introduction of the Pneumoccocal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV-7) into the routine immunization services indicates the graduation of our EPI programme to an advance level recognized by the World Health Organization.
She highlighted that the invasive Pneumoccocal disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in The Gambia according to the Medical Research Council (MRC).
Dr. Jallow pointed out that Pneumoccocal studies in the Upper River Region showed that 500 children out of 100,000 children, under the age of one year, died from pneumonia, while 250 children under five years out of 100,000 also died from pneumonia.

Accordingly, pneumonia is recognized as one of the commonest causes of death in the preschool children she noted.
The vaccine, Minister Jallow said, is 89 percent effective in preventing invasive disease cause by all strains of pneumococcal.
She further highlighted that subsequently, WHO issued a position paper in March 2007 stating that “The introduction of Pneumoccocal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV-7) in national immunization programmes should be a priority for countries where under five mortality is above 50/100 live births.
Dr. Jallow said that it is anticipated that the routine use of the new vaccine can avert a significant number of needless childhood deaths by the year 2015 and move The Gambia closer to reaching MDG4 goals.

The FAO Representative Baba Gana Ahmadou delivering the WHO Representative’s statement said the launching of this new Vaccine in The Gambia is no surprise to the World Health Organization.
He said The Gambia has always been in the forefront and is widely quoted in providing affordable and quality immunization services to its children, making such services one of the best in the African Region, which is credited to the support of a responsive and caring government and committed citizenry.
Mr. Ahmadou said that these efforts have been translated into tangible results notably the reduction of infant mortality and expressed hope that the launching of this new vaccine will further contribute to the reduction of infant and childhood morbidity and mortality.

The Deputy Representative of UNICEF, Ms. Edece Thebaud, said immunization has eradicated smallpox, substantially reduced morbidity and mortality from diphtheria, pertusis, tetanus and measles and is on the verge of eradicating polio.
She said that the wild polio virus was detected in less than a dozen countries in Africa.
She disclosed that despite its present in the sub-region since 2005, the polio virus has not been detected in The Gambia and this is due mainly to the high immunization coverage, coupled with increased access to safe water and commended the government of The Gambia for this significant move towards child survival.
Speaking earlier in his welcome remarks, the Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council, Chief Yankuba Colley expressed delight in hosting this laudable initiative aimed at improving the health of Gambian children.
He appealed to parents to ensure that their children are vaccinated against the Pneumoccocal disease.

The Pneumoccocal disease is caused by bacterial infection called streptococcus pneumonia.  It is also called Pneumoccocal and can infect the lungs (pneumonia), the blood (bacteremia) the membrane that covers the brain (meningitis), and the ear (otitis media). 
The disease is most likely to strike in the season although there are cases year round.
The most common symptoms are chills, fever, chest pain, shortness of breath and severe coughing.  Some people vomit or have seizures which are the common types of Pneumoccocal diseases. Common diseases include pneumonia, meningitis, bacteraemia, ear infection, sinusitis and bronchitis.