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Published: Wednesday, 24 January 2018 17:00

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Photo: CadenagramonteHavana, Jan 24.- A new effective conjugates vaccine against pneumococcal diseases, with seven most frequent serotypes of the pathogen, will be on market next year, leaders of the research said here today.

Developed by the Finlay Institute, the heptavalent vaccine will be registered with the name Quimi-Vio, and will reach all Cuban provinces, Dagmar García, a Research Director of the entity, told Prensa Latina.

This pathogen is the main cause of pneumonia and bacterial meningitis in infants. This medicine already exists in the world but it is not available in Cuba because of elements associated with high prices, she explained.

After performing the preclinical study in laboratory animals, trials in humans began to demonstrate the safety of the product, she said.

Such trials have been developed since 2014 in the central province of Cienfuegos, where more than 5,000 children between the ages of one and five have been immunized. In fact, this is the age group where the vaccine will be first introduced in Cuba, she said.

As part of the research methodology, which included the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital, babies between 2 and 3 months were also included in the trial.

Quimi-Vio will then join to the Cuban scheme of childhood vaccination, which already includes 10 vaccines against 13 diseases, among them diphtheria, measles, mumps, rubella and whooping cough. Some of the injections are also produced on the island as hemophilia, hepatitis B and the pentavalent vaccine.

These results will be presented at the scientific community gathered at the 28th Congress of Pediatrics starting today at the Conference Center in this capital. (Cadenagramonte)