Vaccination drive seeks to prevent pneumococcal disease in vulnerable communities

The recent World Pneumonia Day 2022 saw the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) partner with Pfizer Malaysia and non-governmental organizations such as BeVital, Community Health Care Clinic, PT Foundation, Ihsan Johor Relief and the National Cancer Society of Malaysia to vaccinate and protect 6,000 children and adults against pneumococcal disease.

“At Pfizer, our purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives, and to make as broad an impact as possible, we recognize the need to address specific healthcare disparities such as access to vaccines,” said Luksanawan Thangpaibool, Country Cluster Lead, Pfizer Malaysia, Brunei and Pakistan. The 6,000 doses of pneumococcal vaccine that were disbursed with the help of the MRCS and NGO partners will go to children, adults and also to people of different backgrounds who may be otherwise unable to access equitable healthcare opportunities.”

While Malaysia has been largely successful in implementing various immunization programmes, one of MRCS’ primary goals is to provide healthcare to every person in need. According to MRCS Secretary General Tuan Hj Hakim Hamzah, this public-private partnership with Pfizer Malaysia to vaccinate and protect 6,000 children and adults is consistent with the mission of the MRCS to provide care and relief assistance to at-risk and vulnerable communities.

Approximately 450 million people worldwide contract pneumonia each year, particularly the elderly and those with co-morbidities. [Available at https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2810%2961459-6  Accessed on 17 November 2022] In Malaysia, pneumonia is one of the top three causes of death among adults and children under the age of 5 years, and the number of pneumonia cases reported each year continues to rise. [Available at https://www.akademisains.gov.my/asmsj/article/the-relative-risk-estimation-of-pneumonia-in-malaysia-using-standardized-morbidity-ratio-smr/ Accessed on 17 November 2022] Pneumococcal pneumonia is typically caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) bacteria. It is an infectious, potentially life-threatening bacterial lung disease that can be contracted at any time. The bacteria can be transmitted from person to person via coughing and close contact.

The annual World Pneumonia Day aims to raise awareness about the toll of pneumonia, and to advocate for global action to protect against, help prevent, and effectively treat this infectious disease. The majority of populations dangerously exposed to pneumonia reside in a group of low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Thus, efforts to mobilize communities to educate and empower families, and to strengthen health systems to prevent, diagnose, and treat pneumonia, will have a significant impact on the preventable and treatable disease.