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Pneumococcal Disease

Pneumococcal, a highly infectious disease, kills 1.6 million people - including more than 800,000 children under age five - each year. The Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) supports research and advocacy efforts to raise awareness about this deadly disease, and encourage the introduction of pneumococcal vaccines worldwide.

Sabin convenes the world’s leading experts in epidemiology and other key public health professionals at regional and country-level symposia each year, including the Regional Pneumococcal Symposium. Developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and PneumoADIP, the regional symposia provide a forum to share the latest pneumococcal research and new prevention strategies.

Sabin also oversees key research studies and conducts extensive literature reviews with top epidemiologists, economists and analysts in the industry -- critical research that has yielded important new data on the disease burden and economic impact of pneumococcal in developing countries.

In 2006, Sabin launched the Pneumococcal Awareness Council of Experts (PACE), to elevate pneumococcal disease on the global health agenda and advocate for its prevention worldwide. Working with more than 100 professional medical societies around the globe, PACE informs policymakers about the global threat of pneumococcal disease and works to secure commitments from countries to combat the disease.

Related Events

Regional Symposium on New Vaccines

Sabin and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) co-hosted the "Regional Symposium on New Vaccines" in Lima, Perú. On December 1-2 over 160 government leaders, physicians, researchers and other concerned stake holders came together to share the latest research on diseases and vaccine developments. Peruvian Minister of Health Dr. Oscar Ugarte Ubillus opened the meeting and stressed the importance of continuing efforts to advance new vaccines as important tools in public health.

1 - 2 December 2009 - Read more

Fourth Regional Pneumococcal Symposium

The 4th Regional Pneumococcal Symposium brought together over 185 scientific experts, key decision makers and public health professionals from 38 countries around the world who have dedicated their efforts to pneumococcal vaccine development and control of pneumococcal disease. While in Johannesburg they reviewed progress toward safe, effective pneumococcal vaccines and addressed many questions, including how to make sure they get to the world's poorest children.

2 - 3 March 2009 - Read more

Sub-regional Pneumococcal Symposium (Dominican Republic)

The problem of pneumococcus in all its aspects, epidemiology, clinical and sequelae behavior, points of view from laboratories, and most importantly prevention and treatment were discussed at the sub-regional symposium held on October 1 - 2, 2008, in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

1 - 2 October 2008 - Read more

Sub-regional Symposium on New Vaccines: Pneumococcal, Rotavirus and Human Papilloma Virus (Colombia)

In February of 2008, around 50 immunization experts from the Americas gathered in Bogotá, Colombia, to discuss strategies for broadening the adoption of pneumococcus, rotavirus and HPV vaccines. The Sub-regional Symposium on New Vaccines provided an opportunity for health planners in Peru and Colombia to share their experiences, needs and goals; to dialogue with international researchers; and to lay the groundwork for adopting vaccines against these diseases, as well as establishing the surveillance necessary to measure their impact.

27 - 29 February 2008 - Read more

Third Regional Pneumococcal Symposium

The 3rd Regional Pneumococcal Symposium held in Istanbul, Turkey on February 13-14, 2008, brought together 200 participants from Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania as well as officials from the World Health Organization and representatives from multilateral agencies and pharmaceutical companies to discuss the latest advances of Pneumococcal vaccines.

13 - 14 February 2008 - Read more

Sub-Regional Symposium on New Vaccines: Pneumococcal, Rotavirus and Human Papilloma Virus (Venezuela)

The Sub-Regional Symposium on New Vaccines: Pneumococcal, Rotavirus and Human Papilloma Virus, was held in Caracas, Venezuela, 29-30 January 2008. Over 85 Public health experts, clinicians, and policy makers from Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia, along with representatives of global health agencies examined the evidence available to decision makers, and discussed progress in addressing issues central to vaccine introduction. Safe, new vaccines for rotavirus, pneumococcus and human papilloma virus are available, and some have already been introduced in Latin America.

29 - 30 January 2008 - Read more

National Symposium on Pneumococcal and Influenza Surveillance (Brazil)

In September 2007, the Sabin Vaccine Institute, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and GAVI’s PneumoADIP collaborated with Brazil’s Ministry of Health to hold a two day symposium devoted to laying a foundation for joint influenza and pneumococcal surveillance work in Brazil.

20 - 21 September 2007 - Read more

Second Regional Pneumococcal Symposium

The 2nd Regional Pneumococcal Symposium held in São Paulo , Brazil in December 2006 brought together 300 participants from the Latin American region to discuss the latest advances of Pneumococcal vaccines. This meeting followed the First Symposium two years earlier, held in Mexico City. Participants in Mexico City had noted the urgent need to better understand the burden of pneumococcal disease in Latin America and the Caribbean.

13 - 14 December 2006 - Read more