Singapore was the first country in Asia to approve and introduce Pfizer’s 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20), a robust vaccine offering enhanced coverage against a spectrum of pneumococcal bacteria strains.1 The significance of this development showcased the nation’s commitment towards combating pneumococcal diseases and maintaining public health.
Globally, pneumonia ranks as a significant health concern and stands as one of the three leading causes of death in Singapore.1,2 While pneumococcal vaccines don’t safeguard against all pneumonia causes (eg, viruses, fungi), they do target the more prevalent strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, which are responsible for various illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis, middle-ear, and sinus infections.1
