Vaccination against pneumonia protecting millions of children in developing countries

A vaccine against the leading cause of pneumonia is protecting millions of children in developing countries, according to figures compiled to mark the fourth World Pneumonia Day observed on November 12, according to GAVI Alliance. GAVI has also supported the introduction of a vaccine that protects against Haemophilusinfluenzae type b (Hib), which is another leading cause of pneumonia. Almost all of the 73 countries GAVI works in have introduced the vaccine, reaching 120 million children. By the end of 2012, it is projected that over 600,000 future deaths caused by Hib disease will have been prevented through GAVI Alliance support. By the end of 2012, the vaccine would have reached an estimated 13 million children in the world’s poorest countries. To date, 21 countries have already introduced the pneumococcal vaccine in record time, with support from the GAVI Alliance. By 2015, more than 50 countries plan to introduce the vaccine, protecting millions...